NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Tennessee bill that would effectively ensure reports of bullying are treated the same as harassment passed the House of Representatives on March 25. It also passed the Senate on April 8. Now, the bill is headed to Governor Bill Lee's desk.
HB 2590 was introduced by Rep. Lowell Russell (R - Vonore) and would include language that formally defines bullying and cyberbullying in state law. If an incident of either is reported, law enforcement would need to make an official report about it and tell the minor's legal guardians about it.
The law specifically excludes incidents reported through the SafeTN app, designed to collect information about school threats. Minors accused of bullying may need to go through juvenile court and face penalties.
Russell said on the House floor victims of bullying may consider suicide, and acts of violence can be linked to bullying.
"This bill will hopefully define what bullying is and notify the parents when their child is bullied," he said.
The bill would define bullying as "an act committed by a student that substantially interferes with another student's educational benefits, opportunities, or performance." The definition expands to include acts of bullying on school grounds, at school-sponsored events, on school-provided equipment, on school buses and at any official school bus stop.
According to the bill, bullying can include "physically harming the other student or damaging the other student's property," or "knowingly placing the other student or students in reasonable fear of physical harm to the other student or damage to the student's property."
The bill also said acts of bullying off school property that are directed specifically at other students can still be considered a substantial disruption to the educational environment. It also defines cyberbullying as an act of "bullying undertaken through the use of electronic devices."
It passed the Senate without any "nay" votes.