The Indiana Senate passed House Bill 1483 on Tuesday with broad bipartisan support to provide comprehensive anti-bullying policies including notification of parents, strengthened school-based anti-bullying policies, and enhanced safety for bullying victims.
The bill’s passage comes after the Senate Education and Career Development Committee heard testimony from the family of Terry Badger III, who recently took his own life as a result of being bullied at school. State Senator J.D. Ford (D-Indianapolis) is a sponsor of HB 1483 and offered the following statement:
Ford
“Today, the Indiana Senate took a real step forward in supporting our children across the state,” State Sen. Ford said. “The impact of bullying on a student’s mental health and school performance cannot be overstated. With the passage of HB 1483, we are telling Hoosier kids that we see you and support you. To the families across the state who have dealt with bullying and its terrible consequences and shared your stories with us, I cannot thank you enough. We must ensure this legislation is just the start of our efforts to support our children’s mental health.”
Sen. Ford represents Indiana Senate District 29 which encompasses Boone County’s Eagle Township, Hamilton County’s Clay Township, and Pike and Wayne townships in Marion County. For more information on Sen. Ford’s legislative agenda or other State Senate business, call 1-800-382-9467 or visit IndianaSenateDemocrats.org/s29.