Rep. Vernon Smith (R) of Gary joked he was nervous to present his HB 1483 on Third Reading, the first time he had done so in approximately 15 years, he said. After House Committee on Education Chair Bob Behning (R) of Indianapolis, a coauthor on the anti-bullying bill, helped Rep. Smith amend the bill on second reading, the House deemed it fit for the Senate’s consideration, passing the bipartisan legislation 92-1. The Smith bill would require a school corporation to report an act of bullying to the parents of the victim within three business days and the parents of an alleged perpetrator within five business days after the incident is reported. And, prioritizing the safety of the victim, the bill outlines procedures that would allow for either party to be transferred to a different school at the request of the victim, but not the same school, if an incident is “severe” and meets the stipulated requirements.
