By Daniel L. Bamberg
Alabama State Senator Cam Ward is sponsoring a bill, which will tackle an old issue but something that has only recently become a part of the social conscious. It is an anti-bullying law and if made law, will require public school employees to report and react to child bullying.
The Bill is being called the “Alex Moore Anti-Bullying Act.” It will require the state department of education to develop a statewide policy and post it on their website.
At the age of 15 years old Alex Moore jumped to her death off of a Interstate 65 overpass in Jemison. Her parents and independent investigations conclude that Moore was the victim of high school bullying.
If the bill becomes law, it would give civil immunity to anyone who reports harassment and will require teachers and any public school faculty to reported anything suspiciously resembling bullying, hazing, or insulting from one pupil to another.
“The situation in Chilton County was heart breaking. When that child complained and it went unheeded contributing to a child’s suicide,” explained Sen. Ward. “I hope we are successful in our efforts to make changes in the law and prevent future tragedies like Alex Moore’s situation.”
Alex’s mother, Jill is also hoping the new bill will become law to help these things from happening to other children.
“I think the best thing about this bill is that it requires teachers and anyone else to report anything like what happened to Alex,” explained Jill. “I would hate to see any other family deal with the loss of a child and have to go through what Alex did.
Senator Ward hopes to have the bill up for debate in his judiciary committee at the end of March.
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