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Bill

SJR 38

Designates October of each year as "Bullying Prevention Month."

2024-2025 Regular Session

Designates October as Bullying Prevention Month in New Jersey to raise awareness and encourage schools, families, and communities to prevent and respond to bullying (nonbinding).

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee
#commemoratio #education
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Bill Summary · SJR 38

Summary — SJR 38 (2025)

Title: Designates October of each year as “Bullying Prevention Month” in New Jersey
Type: Joint Resolution (commemorative)
Introduced: January 22, 2025
Primary Sponsors: Sen. Laura Ellman (Senate), Rep. Robyn Gabel (House, chief house sponsor)
Companion: AJR 15 (companion)

Main purpose

SJR 38 formally designates October of each year as “Bullying Prevention Month” in New Jersey to promote awareness of bullying (including cyberbullying), its impacts, and actions that schools, parents, and communities can take to prevent and respond to bullying.

Key provisions

  • Officially designates October as “Bullying Prevention Month” in New Jersey.
  • Requests that the Governor annually issue a proclamation calling on public officials and citizens to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
  • Takes effect immediately upon adoption.

The resolution contains supporting findings that: bullying can be verbal, physical, or indirect (e.g., via social media); more than 1 in 5 American students report being bullied; about 5–15% of students are chronic victims and 7–12% are chronic bullies; cyberbullying nearly doubled between 2007 and 2016; and schools are already obligated under the Anti‑Bullying Bill of Rights Act to provide safe learning environments.

Who is affected

  • Primarily symbolic — students, parents, educators, and school communities are the intended audiences for awareness and prevention activities.
  • No changes to statutory rights, school obligations, enforcement mechanisms, or funding are made by this resolution.

Impact and limitations

  • Effect: Raises public awareness and encourages coordinated observances, education, and prevention programs at schools and in communities.
  • Limitation: This is a commemorative joint resolution, not a law creating new mandates, funding, or penalties. It relies on voluntary actions by schools, parents, and officials and on existing anti‑bullying statutes for enforcement.

Legislative status / timeline (selected)

  • Received/filed: 2025-01-22
  • Read first time / referred: Feb 7, 2025
  • Co‑author authorized: Feb 11, 2025
  • Adopted by Senate: May 8, 2025 (suspension of rule prevailed)
  • Adopted by both houses / Resolution adopted: May 9, 2025
  • Filed with Secretary: May 8–9, 2025

This resolution is intended as an annual awareness observance to complement existing anti‑bullying efforts in New Jersey schools and communities.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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