ATLANTA, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- The Georgia House of Representatives has approved a broad anti-bullying bill that would extend coverage to elementary schools in the state.
The measure, prompted by the accidental fatal shooting of a Columbus schoolgirl by the alleged victim of a bully, passed 118-52 despite concerns by some lawmakers that it might render school systems vulnerable to lawsuits. It now goes to the Senate.
The bill covers all phases of secondary education from elementary to high school and would allow parents and students to make anonymous tips to their local schools. It also would require all bullying be investigated, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Friday.
The legislation defines bullying as "any pattern of written or verbal expression or any physical act or gesture that is intended to ridicule, humiliate, intimidate, or cause measurable physical or emotional distress upon one or more students in the school, on school grounds, in school vehicles, at designated school bus stops, or at school activities or sanctioned events."
