Casperson Anti-Bullying Bill

Anti–Bullying legislation is nearing completion in Lansing.

State Senator Tom Casperson gave Copper Country school leaders an inside look into the development of the bill.

The concern for Casperson and other Senators was that the law could have been used by students who were called out by their teachers in a classroom and that student could then charge the teacher with bullying if those provisions were allowed in the bill.

The controversial exception in the original bill that allowed for statements to be made if from the standpoint of a religious belief was meant to protect the free speech rights of students having a discussion about their own values.

Some saw this as a free pass to bully on the basis of religion and the wording was removed.