Minnesota is on its way to having one of the strictest and detailed anti-bullying laws in the country. The problem is that the new law replaces a clear and fair law on the children's harassment with one that puts harsh requirements on school boards and administrators by requiring funds and staff time to be spend on complying with the new provisions.

Although current law already prohibits all forms of bullying, the bill specifies more than a dozen characteristics that could be targets for harassment, including sexual orientation or gender expression, marital status, "actual or perceived race," socioeconomic status, disability, physical characteristics and national origin.

I opposed this bill for a number of reasons. The expansion of law would make the Legislature a "super school board," pushing more state mandates on to local officials and creating costs to school districts as schools face state aid reductions. Minnesota School Boards Association, Minnesota Elementary and Secondary Principals, and the Minnesota Family Council also spoke against it. While there are always cases of misbehavior, additional language will not clarify the situation, and it could very well open new avenues for lawsuits against schools.

The Legislature and others continue to try to legislate certain bad behaviors by bringing more attention to them, instead of building real respect and character education into the curriculum. Legislation like this does nothing but push more Minnesotans into a victim class, and adds to the bureaucratic demands passed down from St. Paul.
Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen
St. Paul, Minn.