House passes anti-bullying measure

A bill requiring school districts to create anti-bullying policies flew through the House on Wednesday, and goes to the Senate for debate.

HB325, sponsored by Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay, is touted as addressing physical bullying.

"We'll create a standard that children who enter our schools will not be touched physically, they will not be intimidated physically ... you will not block them from their locker or being somewhere," said Rep. Greg Hughes, R-Draper.

The bill also outlaws hazing and encourages reporting of hazing and bullying. District policies would have to be given to students and teachers would be trained in their specifics.

The bill used to include cyber-bullying and humiliating students — which the Attorney General's Office has said over the past year is an issue. But that language was taken out following some legislators' concerns the definitions were too broad and could punish innocent teasing.

"I think this is a wonderful compromise bill," Moss said. "This has to do with physical danger or physically infringing on someone's space or their safety. We want schools to be a safe place for our kids."