Iowa Bill Would Change Definition Of Bullying In Schools

Unfortunately, bullies are part of adult life too.

There have been a lot of bills that Governor Reynolds has signed into law even just this month. Two weeks ago, she signed 12 of them, last Friday, she made 7 of them law. To recap:

Mid-April: Iowa Governor Signs 12 New Bills Into Law In One Day

Late April: The 7 New Bills Iowa Governor Reynolds Signed Into Law Friday

Now, a bill that's going before the governor would tweak the definition of bullying for Iowa schools.

It's House File 865, and it would define bullying/harassment as:

repeated and targeted electronic, written, verbal or physical act or conduct toward a student that creates an objectively hostile school environment

Currently, the state's bullying definition also includes all of that with "based on any actual or perceived trait". But the new bill removes from Iowa law the specific list of student traits like gender identity, race, religion, disability, physical attributes, sexual orientation, age, or really anything about a student.

According to the Des Moines Register, Republicans can help school officials who misinterpret the state's current law. Sen. Sandy Salmon (R, Janesville) said some have interpreted the bullying law to affect only one characteristic that's outlined in state law, which has led to the underreporting of bullying incidents and unequal treatment of students.

Democrats in the Iowa Legislature say the existing law doesn't limit the definition of bullying because of the "not limited to" language that's in it. Sen. Mike Zimmer (D, DeWitt) said:

The vehicle to address bullying and harassment is already in code. It is already in board policy. It is in every single school district in this state. If an administrator is misinterpreting this, this is not going to solve that.

The bill passed both the Iowa House (64-33) and, this week, the Iowa Senate (32-16). It now goes to Governor Reynolds' office.