O'PAKE URGES HOUSE ACTION ON SENATE-PASSED ANTI-BULLYING LEGISLATION

          Harrisburg, January 11, 2008 -- State Senator Michael A. O’Pake today called for action by the House of Representatives on legislation he is co-sponsoring to deal with school bullying in the wake of events this past week at Antietam Junior-Senior High School.
          “We don’t know what prompted the attacks on Wednesday yet, but attacks like this elsewhere often result from bullying and the failure of school officials to detect it,” the Reading Democrat said.
          “Whether or not bullying had a role here, this near tragedy has raised a red flag for students, teachers and parents in Antietam and across the County, and reminds us that we need to deal with the problem of bullying now, not when it’s too late.”
          The bill (SB71) co-sponsored by O’Pake was passed overwhelmingly (42-6) by the Senate on March 12. The House Judiciary Committee quickly approved it as well, but it has been lingering without action in the House Appropriations Committee since April.
          “I’m calling on Speaker O’Brien and Representative Evans to pick this ball up and to get the job done,” O’Pake said. “Half done is undone. We can’t rest here. The stakes are too high.”
          The bill requires schools to have clear policies to confront bullies, and encourages the development of programs dealing with education, prevention and intervention.
          “Faculty and students need to be alert to bullying and know that it’s not acceptable, and they need to have an established procedure to respond.” O’Pake said. “The risks are too high not to.”

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