The Assembly Education Committee will hold a public hearing on SB154. This bill requires school to develop plans for school safety and bullying, as well as pupil records.  This bill has already passed the Senate and awaits passage in the Assembly. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 10:00 AM in Room 417 North (GAR Hall) in the State Capitol.

SB154 incorporates bullying prevention requirements introduced in previous sessions.  For more information about the bill including a resource Fact Sheet, go to the DAWN web site.

There will be an executive session prior to the public hearing on this bill.  Also one other bill will have a hearing before this one.
Therefore it is likely that the public hearing on SB154 will not begin until around noon.  Individuals wishing to testify might want to arrive between 11:00 and 11:30 AM to be on the safe side. Individuals can also choose to register their opinion on the bill without testifying.

Action Steps:

1. Attend the public hearing.  Testify or fill out a sheet indicating your opinion on the bill.  Disability advocacy groups are supporting this bill.
2. Contact your representative, especially if they are on the committee and let him or her know what you think about bullying in schools.  If you do not know who your representatives are, go here.
   
3. If you can’t attend the hearing but want to let your opinion known, contact the committee chair, Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts, with your message.

When you testify or give your opinion about bullying in schools, you can use information in the Fact Sheet to help state your case. Using personal stories and experiences are always the best.