INDIANAPOLIS—State Senator J.D. Ford (D-Indianapolis) and a coalition of community activists and elected leaders celebrated the committee passage of HB 1483 passed out of committee with unanimous support. The bill will provide comprehensive protections for Indiana’s students against all forms of bullying and now moves to the Senate floor for a full vote. Senator Ford, a sponsor of HB 1483, released the following statement:

“We know that bullying can have a devastating impact on our children’s mental health and academic performance. This bill will provide the resources and support necessary to protect our kids and ensure they can learn in a safe and nurturing environment while improving parental notification. I want to thank my colleagues on the committee for recognizing the importance of this issue and working to make our schools safer for all students. I would also like to thank the families who testified about the real impact of bullying on our kids, we owe it to every Hoosier family to pass this bill.”

“This bill will require all Indiana schools to develop and implement comprehensive anti-bullying policies that prioritize the safety of the victim, report acts of bullying to the parents of the victim and the bully, and determine the severity of an incident of bullying and whether the incident would warrant the transfer of the victim or bully to another school.”