This thread made me curious about where I live. I didn't know it but Alabama was a state that entered into a anti bullying law with 44 other states. Not exactly sure what the statutes say or mean, but it is good to know it is there if I or anyone I know might need to be directed towards it.
Alabama bullying law
Called the Student Harassment Prevention Act, which goes into effect Oct. 1, the Alabama law requires the adoption of policies in public school systems to prevent the harassment of students.
The act applies only to student-against-student harassment, intimidation, violence and threats of violence in public schools. Each local board of education will adopt procedural policies, and districts will have until July 1 to establish a policy.
It is also the intent of the law that filing a complaint of harassment be in writing and submitted by the affected student or the parent or guardian of the affected student and not by an education employee on behalf of an affected student. The law applies to pre-K to 12th grade.
Among other things it states that:
: Bully Law took effect October 1 2009
: Until now, there haven't been any legal repercussions from bullying and it's an issue the state has long needed to address, said longtime educator Lisa Moses, of Florence, who said bullying is one area addressed in another new piece of legislation known as Taylor's Law. Under that law, a student's behavior at school, including bullying, can delay the student from acquiring a driver's license.
: Alabama's law covers grades pre-kindergarten through 12th. The sponsor of the bill, State Rep. Betty Carol Graham, D-Alexander City, said the new Alabama law was three years in the making and grew out of the rise in suicides among youth in the state and nation.
http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20090917/ARTICLES/909175031?Title=Bully-law-takes-effect