The Michigan state senate passed a new anti-bullying bill that excluded a controversial exemption that would have allowed bullying for religious or moral reasons, after more than 50,000 people joined a popular student-led petition campaign on Change.org, according to a press release.
Katy Butler and Carson Borbely, two bullied Michigan students who started the petition, said they were relieved that the legislature stripped the “license to bully” language, but were disappointed that state lawmakers failed to pass a stronger bill that enumerates the reasons why students are bullied and requires that schools report back on how well they’re protecting kids.
The legislation—which passed the state Senate 35-2—is on its way to Gov. Rick Snyder, the Detroit Free Press reported. Amendments to require policies to list protected classes (e.g., sexual orientation) and to extend anti-bullying measures to cyberspace were rejected.
State Sen. Glenn Anderson, D-Westland—an advocate for an anti-bullying policy—voted against the measure because he said it did not offer enough protections for bullying victims.