Martha Coakley Urging Anti-Bullying Bill

Attorney General Martha Coakley is urging state lawmakers to support legislation she says will help strengthen Massachusetts' existing anti-bullying laws. A 2010 law created a commission chaired by Coakley's office to review the state's existing statutes and make recommendations to lawmakers. Among the recommendations being pushed by Coakley are steps she said would give teachers and policy makers more information to guide anti-bullying efforts and provide better protections to students who are particularly vulnerable to bullying.

The bill authorizes the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to use existing data collection systems to gather information about bullying incidents each year. It would also create a new survey to be administered every three years to gauge the frequency and severity of bullying in schools from the perspective of students.