Despite Republican stranglehold, Area lawmakers introduce anti-bullying bills in Austin

Republicans continue in charge of Texas politics: Surprise

Even with Republicans controlling both houses of the Texas legislature, there are several anti-bullying bills that have already been filed by Democrats for this year's legislative session.  The expectation is that the Republicans will be too consumed with redistricting and the budget shortfall and as a result, the Democrats might not faces as much opposition as they would othewise. The DallasVoice.com is reporting:

Rep. Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City, filed HB 24, Rep. Richard Raymond, D-Laredo, introduced HB 170, both of which would also remove bullies from the general classroom and put them in a “disciplinary alternative education program.” The intent is not necessarily to make bullies the bad guys but removing them from the classroom might be the first step to get them some much- needed counseling. Also in the House, Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, introduced HB 130, which would create a bullying hotline.

In the Legislature’s other house, Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, has introduced two bills addressing bullying: SB 42 adds the word cyberbullying to existing Texas Education Code sections addressing bullying, and SB 49 would require that parents of students transferred to an disciplinary alternative education program be notified of the incidents prompting the move.