newjerseynewsroom.com

Christie announces plan to provide the aid

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

New Jersey’s 616 school districts would be able to vie for a share of $1 million to establish programs to combat bullying under bipartisan legislation announced by Gov. Chris Christie Wednesday.

A seven-member task force would also be created to draw up guidance for school districts to follow in implementing the law.

The proposals would be included in the state’s Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights law that the Democratic-controlled Legislature would send to the Republican governor.

“We know that students have the best opportunity to learn and achieve when they’re in an environment that’s safe and free from intimidation,” Christie said at a Statehouse press conference. “This legislation is extraordinarily important to meet those goals.”

The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights was signed into law last January and went into effect in September with the start of the new school year. In late January, the state Council on Local Mandates found that the law contained unfunded mandates after several school districts filed complaints. The Legislature was given 60 days to remedy the law or risk it being invalidated.

Christie would appoint four members of the task force and the remaining three would be named by Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex).

Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) and Sen. Diane Allen (R-Burlington) praised what they called a bipartisan solution to help school districts fully comply with the law.

“I’m extremely pleased with this solution because at the end of the day, the law has not changed, which means that our goal of protecting the countless students who are at the mercy of bullies day in and day out remains intact,” Vainieri Huttle said. “With any new law of this magnitude, there’s going be some growing pains. This will help assist schools in adjusting and complying with the new requirements. I’m grateful that everyone involved in this process has shown a willingness to work together for the benefit of our students.”

"Hopefully it will be easier for schools to implement the Anti-Bullying law as a result of this agreement,” Buono said. “More importantly, it protects all of the victims of bullying who may not have had the law on their side until now. I hope this sends a strong message to students everywhere, who have been harassed, intimidated or bullied, that they are not alone and their pleas have not fallen on deaf ears.”