Senate Education Committee Advances Proposal for State Study of School Bullying (SB 210)

Sen. Donnan Fenton introduced SB 210, saying the bill would "establish a study committee on school bullying" to identify best practices for prevention, training and possible legislative fixes. Fenton cited recent events in Keene and argued the committee should examine whether schools have adequate resources, policies and training to protect students.

Why it matters: Supporters said a study would allow the state to gather evidence about why bullying persists in some districts and whether local policies or enforcement failures contribute. Anne Marie Banfield, a parental-rights advocate, told the committee she supported the concept and urged the panel to include parents who removed children from public schools because of bullying. Testimony emphasized that parents’ experiences and administrators’ handling of complaints should both be part of any review.

Restorative approaches: Several witnesses urged the study group to examine restorative-justice alternatives to punitive discipline. Lance Jacobs and other advocates described peer mediation, dialogue circles and reintegration practices after suspensions as tools that can reduce repeat misconduct and prevent students from entering the school-to-prison pipeline.

Administrative enforcement and remedies: Committee members and witnesses discussed whether existing laws and tools already provide remedies (including a private right of action added in prior reforms) but said some parents may lack resources to litigate. Senators asked whether a study could identify practical enforcement gaps and recommend steps the Department of Education or districts could take to ensure consistent application of anti-bullying policies.

Process: The bill was introduced and received public testimony. No committee vote was recorded at the hearing.