When the state House voted to require schools to adopt bullying policies in March, Kevin Epling of East Lansing hoped the Senate would quickly follow.
More than four months later, Epling still is waiting for action on "Matt's Safe School Bill," with legislation stalled in the Senate Education Committee.
"We are coming up on the new school year, and it would have been nice to have something in place," Epling said Wednesday, while taking part in an anti-bullying training program in Delta Township.
Epling has made anti-bullying legislation a personal mission. His 14-year-old son, Matt, killed himself in 2002 after a hazing incident.
Epling was a speaker at a training program sponsored by Michigan's Law Enforcement Bullying Task Force and the Michigan's Safe Schools Initiative. More than 120 police officers and school officials from across the state took part.
They were introduced to a new in-class program that provides police with grade-appropriate tools they can use when bullying problems arise.
Meanwhile, it remains unclear if, or when, the Senate will take up the legislation.
The State Board of Education has drafted a model bullying policy for schools to adopt, but there are no requirements that schools establish that policy or any other.
Legislation sponsored by State Rep. Pam Byrnes, D-Chelsea, passed the House by a 59-50 vote. The legislation has been controversial in part because it requires policies consistent with the State Board of Education model, which lists sexual orientation as one of the actions that can motivate bullying.
Epling said there also is disagreement about whether legislation is needed to address the issue. He believes that it is.
"It is definitely time for the Legislature to step in because the system is broken at this time," he said. The fact that more than 120 police officers signed up for Wednesday's training session, he said, illustrates that police around the state recognize the problem.
Epling said school districts should take action with or without a legislative mandate. He said federal funding is available to pay for anti-bullying programs.
Any preventive program really will not cost school districts additional funding, he said.
State Sen. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, could not be reached for comment.
Byrnes said she thinks it is important to list specific characteristics that can motivate bullying behavior.
"If you have a vague law, it can be ignored," she said.
Contact Chris Andrews at 377-1054 or candrews@lsj.com.
By Chris Andrews, Lansing State Journal
In your voice
