Asm. Garcia's Cyberbully Bill to Be Heard Wednesday

Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) will bring her measure, Assembly Bill 256, which targets punishing student cyberbullies, up for hearing today before the Assembly Education Committee.

AB 256 focuses on providing a critical update to state law and close loopholes dealing with student cyber-bullying, including harassment using smartphones, text, computers and social media platforms. Current law does not provide that a student who bullies will be suspended or expelled for their behavior, unless the act is related to a school activity or school attendance.

Garcia, a former mathematics teacher, introduced her legislation as a result of the abuse and the damage to students she has seen as a result of bullying and the escalation to cyber-bullying, through the use of instant communication made possible by the explosive growth of electronic devices.

Since AB 256 was introduced in January, many highly publicized cases of cyber-bullying have been reported nationally with tragic consequences, including the recent suicide of Saratoga high school student, Audrie Pott.