ND Senate Endorses School Policies on Bullying

• ND's Teacher of Year speaks at hearing

Karen Toavs, a language arts teacher at Williston Middle School who was named North Dakota's Teacher of the Year in October 2010, speaks at a hearing of the North Dakota House's Education Committee in the North Dakota Capitol in Bismarck, N.D., on Monday, March 14, 2011. Toavs supports legislation that requires school boards to implement policies intended to combat bullying. (AP Photo)

Talk about it

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota schools may be taking new steps against bullying.

The state Senate on Thursday approved legislation that says school districts must have anti-bullying policies ready by July 2012.

The bill says teachers and school aides must be trained in preventing bullying.

Belcourt Sen. Richard Marsellais (MAR'-suh-lay) says North Dakota is one of the few states that doesn't have an anti-bullying law for public schools.

Minot Sen. Oley (OH'-lee) Larsen and Bismarck Sen. Margaret Sitte (SIT'-ee) fought the bill.

Larsen says children need to be taught how to handle bullying. Sitte says the bill is an example of "the nanny state."

Senators voted 36-10 to approve the legislation. It now goes to Gov. Jack Dalrymple for his review. It is HB1465.

The House is considering a separate anti-bullying bill.

Tags: north dakota legislature, news, bullying, anti-bullying, updates