Quinn Signs Law Expanding Cyberbullying Ban

New law includes bullying outside of school grounds

Gov. Pat Quinn has extended the state's ban on student cyberbullying to include actions outside of school.

Quinn signed the legislation on Friday. It prohibits bullying of students via electronic technology even when they're not in school, and applies to devices that aren't owned or used by a school.

The new law expands on a previous legislation banning cyberbullying in schools. It also requires schools to investigate any act of bullying that disrupts school operations or education processes.

It was sponsored by state Rep. Laura Fine and state Sen. Ira Silverstein, and takes effect Jan. 1.

Fine says students should "not be able to get away with intimidating fellow classmates outside of school."

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