New bill aims to toughen anti-bully law

CENTERVILLE (WDTN) - Ohio lawmakers are one step close to toughening the state's anti-bullying laws.

On Wednesday, the House approved changes to the anti-bullying bill and sent it to the Governor Kasich's desk, where it's expected he will sign it into law.

The bill, referred to as the Jessica Logan act, is named for a Cincinnati student who hanged herself in 2008 after weeks of bullying at school.

It requires schools to expand bullying policies to include harassment and intimidation online or on mobile phones, even if the acts occur off school grounds.
    
The bill also states that school policies much be extended to school buses, a system must be set up to allow for anonymous reporting, and that parents should be notified of the district's bullying policies.

Centerville City Schools Superintendent Tom Henderson said even though his schools are in line, he supports the changes.

"With this becoming law it puts a little more clout behind what schools have to do and so," said Henderson. "I don't think that is a bad thing. I think in our case, it just reinforces what we are already doing, but also reinforces that consistency across the state of Ohio".