One of the governor’s top priorities — an anti-bullying bill — is in danger of failing to pass the 2016 Iowa legislature. Representative Cecil Dolecheck, a Republican from Mount Ayr, has been involved in one part of the debate — how much state money to spend to help train teachers and administrators to address bullying. “I’m not sure we’re going to be able to pass bullying legislation,” Dolecheck said. “That’s still up in the air.”

Senate Democrats have voted to spend three-quarters of a million dollars on bullying prevention training for educators, but House Republicans have sided with their Republican governor and opted instead to spend 25-thousand dollars to conduct webinars — online training sessions for educators. Governor Terry Branstad has been asking legislators to pass an anti-bullying bill in each of the past two years. The governor’s been asking legislators to pass a bill that would give school officials clear authority to address bullying that occurs outside of school, especially on-line, but some of Branstad’s fellow Republicans object.

Dolecheck says many of his Republican colleagues believe administrators already have the authority to step in when a student’s being bullied. “There’s nothing they can’t do within a local school district to combat bullying and prevent bullying and address bullying,” Dolecheck says. In addition, many Republicans say parents have the ultimate authority over their children and they’re concerned about school officials monitoring students’ activity outside of school hours. House Republicans have also pressed to have private and religious schools exempted from any anti-bullying bill and they want a religious conscience clause included.

Republican conservatives says without that protection, students could be accused of bullying if they are expressing their religious beliefs. Members of the Iowa House and Senate are scheduled to return to Des Moines this afternoon (Monday), to begin what could be the final week of the 2016 legislative session.

(Radio Iowa)