LANSING, Mich. — Michigan would join the vast majority of states requiring public schools to adopt anti-bullying policies under legislation passed Wednesday by the Republican-led Senate.
But the father of a victimized boy the bill is named after said he is "ashamed" at the latest proposal.
The bill approved by a 26-11, party line vote advances to the Republican-led House where Michigan's decade-long debate over anti-bullying requirements will continue. Democrats argue the Senate-approved measure wouldn't protect bullying victims and could endorse certain types of harassment.
Republican supporters of the latest Michigan proposal say requiring districts to develop their own policies would be a key step toward ensuring that efforts are being made to clamp down on students harassing fellow classmates.
"This bill may not be perfect, but it certainly gets us on the road to making sure that local communities pay attention to this problem and put a policy in place," said the bill's sponsor, Republican state Sen. Rick Jones of Grand Ledge.
Republicans argue all students would be equally protected under the proposal. But Democrats were angered because the bill includes a clause reading it does not infringe on constitutional rights, and the legislation "does not prohibit a statement of a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction" of a student or school employee.
Some Democrats charged that language means the measure could do more harm than good for students.
"It actually sanctions bullying," said Sen. John Gleason, a Democrat from Flushing. "This is a blueprint for bullying."
Kevin Epling of East Lansing, whose 14-year-old son Matt killed himself after a hazing incident in 2002, was upset about that clause and provisions that he said wouldn't address some types of cyberbullying. Epling said in a statement mentioned on the Senate floor that he was "ashamed" the Senate-passed version might become Michigan's anti-bullying measure.
"To give people a 'pass' because their verbal or physical assault is 'sanctioned' by religion is mind boggling and I am at a loss ...," Epling said. "This passage negates the rest of the bill."
The measure as introduced would be called "Matt's Safe School Law."
Democrats want a more detailed measure that specifically outlines reasons students can't be bullied such as sexual orientation, race and weight. The Republican-passed bill doesn't include such a detailed list, often called "enumeration."
Sen. Glenn Anderson, D-Westland, said an anti-bullying law should include enumeration so schools can be on the lookout for bias-based harassment. Without it, Anderson said, the legislation "cannot claim" to protect students.
But some Republicans said listing specific motivations for bullying in the state law could exclude some students from protection.
"A policy that does not enumerate is the only one that protects everybody," said Sen. Tory Rocca, R-Sterling Heights.
Republican Gov. Rick Snyder wants Michigan to adopt an anti-bullying law. At least 45 other states have anti-bullying laws; Democrats said Wednesday that Michigan is one of only three states without such a law.
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