NJ Governor Chris Christie has signed the nation's toughest anti-bullying bill into law.
The new law is intended to eliminate loopholes in the state's first anti-bullying law, passed in 2002, that encouraged school districts to set up anti-bullying programs but did not mandate it.
It will require training for most public school teachers, administrators and other employees on how to spot bullying and mandate that all districts form a "school safety team" to review complaints. School districts would be graded by the state on their efforts to combat the problem.
Administrators who do not investigate reported incidents of bullying would be disciplined, while students who bully could be suspended or expelled. School employees would also be required to report all incidents they learn of, whether they took place in or outside of school.
As you may recall, the bill passed New Jersey's Assembly 71-1 and the state Senate 30-0 back in November.