BTL Staff report
The Republican majority in control of the Michigan Senate refused to allow anti-bullying legislation to be voted on before the legislative session ended last month. By rule, the legislation is now dead and must be reintroduced, first through committee and then to the full House or Senate floor.
That is precisely what some legislators intend to do once the new Michigan legislature is called to session later this month. State Sen. Glenn Anderson (D-Westland) is one of several state legislators in favor of the anti-bullying legislation who has voiced his support for the bills to be reintroduced and passed in the next session. Gov. Granholm has said she supports the legislation and hopes to sign it into law soon.
In December, Sen. Alan Cropsey (R-DeWitt), the majority floor leader, refused to allow a Senate vote on the two House-approved bills, collectively referred to as Matt's Sale Schools Law in honor of Matt Epling, an East Lansing eighth-grader who committed suicide in 2002 after a hazing incident.
Michigan is one of only 13 states that does not have any anti-bullying legislation. Neighboring states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois all have passed anti-bullying legislation, as have 34 other states.
Call to action: BTL encourages all readers to contact your state representatives and senators and let them know you want Matt's Safe Schools Laws to pass this year. You can find contact information for your state senator and representative on the web at http://senate.michigan.gov and http://house.michigan.gov.
