The Family Foundation supports Harmon Amendment

to Bullying Bill

LEXINGTON, KY - The Family Foundation of Kentucky supports House Floor Amendment 2 (HFA 2), introduced by Rep. Mike Harmon (R-Danville), to House Bill 270 CS, also known as the “Bullying Bill."  "This amendment offers important religious protections for students,” said Martin Cothran, The Family Foundation's senior policy analyst. 

The amendment states simply: “No policy, procedure, strategy, or code under provisions of this section and Section 1 of this Act shall in any way require, teach, or instruct either staff or students in a manner that would otherwise conflict with their personal religious beliefs."

The Bullying Bill has received widespread support from groups across the political spectrum, and Cothran said he saw no reason why the amendment should be any less popular with those concerned about the well-being of students.  “We believe everyone should be able to support this amendment, and we fully expect that the same groups concerned about bullying will be supportive of this fundamental protection for students.”

“This amendment is just a common sense extension of the protections already in HB 270,” said Cothran.  “We are against bullying, and we are also against the violation of the religious rights of students.”

Rep. Harmon also filed House Floor Amendment 1 (HFA 1), which amends the original version of the bill.  The two amendments are identical, and The Family Foundation supports both.  The committee substitute, however, contains some changes made at the behest of The Family Foundation, and was passed with The Family Foundation's support by the House Education Committee on Wednesday.

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Martin Cothran is the senior policy analyst for The Family Foundation, a nonprofit public policy organization that works on behalf of the family and the values that make families strong.