Kentucky School Bullying Lawyer: The Kentucky "Bullying Bill"
Most parents of school-age children are unfamiliar with House Bill 91, also known as the “Bullying Bill” or the "Golden Rule Act" (now codified as KRS 158.156). The Bill was passed during the 2008 legislative session.
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Mike Cherry (D-Princeton), prohibits bullying, harassment and other forms of intimidation--including cyber-bullying via the Internet among students. Those who break the code of acceptable behavior could face suspension, expulsion or other disciplinary action. School districts also will be required to put procedures in place to handle reports of such behavior.
The legislation also requires the Kentucky Department of Education to provide guidance to local school districts to assist with the implementation at the local level. Additionally, it requires that “model policies” (bullying, code of conduct, and supervision of students) be provided to school districts.
Vanessa Cantley, partner at Bahe Cook Cantley & Jones in Louisville, is currently representing the families of several children who have either been seriously injured or have tragically committed suicide as a result of severe bullying at school. She comments: "The passage of HB 91 is a good start, but it must be enforced. Bullying will only be stopped by the intervention of adults in authority positions, and those individuals must (1) be trained properly to recognize the subtle signs of bullying; (2) be willing to investigate the matter as soon as bullying is suspected; and (3) be willing to put a swift end to the behavior."
If you are interested in learning more about House Bill 91, or what you can do to help prevent bullying at your child's school, the attorneys at Bahe Cook Cantley & Jones encourage you to visit www.kysafeschools.org.
