New Jersey Gov. Christie Signs Antigay Bullying Law

New Jersey Republican governor Chris Christie signed a bill to establish a statewide antibullying law Wednesday,  The Star-Ledgerreports.

The law is being touted as the strictest antibullying policy in the nation, according to Garden State Equality. Public school teachers, school staff members, and administrators will have required training on how to properly handle incidents of harassment. Faculty and staff will be required to report all incidents of bullying, inside and outside of school, and administrators who do not act on reports of bullying will be disciplined. Furthermore, students who harass other students will be punished for their actions.

The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights eliminates loopholes in a 2002 law that encourages — but does not mandate — school districts to start antibullying programs.

The bill languished in the legislature for nearly a year until Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi committed suicide after a roommate did an Internet broadcast of him in an intimate setting with another man.

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