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Montana politics, elections and legislative news

Bullock Signs Bully Free Montana Bill Into Law

Jackie Yamanaka
Governor Steve Bullock signs the Bully Free Montana bill into law with Rep. Kimberly Dudik, left, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau, right

Local school districts in Montana are charged with coming up with a process so their students can report bullying at school and have those complaints formally addressed.

The new requirement is the result of Governor Steve Bullock signing House Bill 284 into law. 

For over a decade there have been numerous unsuccessful efforts to address bullying at the Montana Legislature. So by the time the 2015 session convened, Montana was the last state in the nation without a law on this issue.

"Thank you everyone. All I can say is we finally did it," said Democratic Rep. Kimberly Dudik of Missoula, lead sponsor of the Bully Free Montana Act. "Ten years and we did it."

"No one likes to be bullied I think we've all been bullied in our lives and no one likes it," said Dudik. "It's never OK to bully someone else. everyone is special and nobody has the right to make anyone feel bad about themselves."

The new law defines bullying as repeated harassment, intimidation or hazing, threatening, insulting or demeaning acts or written communication. The new law extends beyond the classroom, playground, or the athletic field and includes electronic communication, like social media.

"Too often we heard bullying is just part of growing up. kids being kids," said Bullock. "We know, though, that isn't the case."

Bullock credits this new law to the testimony from students and their families. Young men and women stood before legislative committees recounting their personal stories of being bullied.

"We know bullying can turn a place like a classroom where students should feel free to learn new skills and explore their interests into a place of anxiety," said Bullock. "Where students, instead of focusing on learning worry about harassment or intimidation. "

The bill signing was held at Jefferson Elementary, about two blocks from the state Capitol. The students held Bully Free Montana Act signs during the event and they watched as Bullock signed the documents to make the Act official.

"It's now law," he concluded.

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