Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signed into law on Thursday an anti-bullying bill named after Terry Badger III, a 13-year-old boy who took his own life earlier this year.
The state anti-bullying law, now referred to as "TB3," establishes a framework for schools to combat bullying and safeguard victims of bullying. The legislation offers a comprehensive plan for schools to follow in order to put an end to bullying and ensure the safety of those who have been victimized.
Terry Badger III, a student at Covington Middle School in Indiana, killed himself on March 6, 2023. Before taking his own life, he used his cellphone to create a video in which he identified the individuals who had bullied him at school and stated that they were the reason for his actions.
His parents were deeply affected by this tragedy and have since taken up the cause of promoting measures to prevent bullying.
Statewide Blueprint for Schools
According to Fox 19, a recently passed anti-bullying law in Indiana mandates that schools in the state inform the parents of a student who has been bullied about the reported incident within three business days. Additionally, the parents of the accused bully must be notified within five business days of the alleged incident.
The law also mandates that schools evaluate the gravity of the bullying and determine if the victim or perpetrator needs to be relocated to a different school within the district to ensure the victim's safety.
The law is considered a significant milestone for Indiana and a model for other states to adopt. While some other states also have anti-bullying laws, the Badger family hopes that the blueprint for Indiana's law will eventually be extended to the entire country.
Terry II and Robyn Badger, Terry's parents, opted to disclose the tragic circumstances surrounding their son's suicide on March 6, which they attributed to being bullied. Their decision to go public with Terry's story generated widespread indignation across the country, per IndyStar.
Indiana Representative Vernon G. Smith, a Democrat from Gary, was among those who were outraged. He redoubled his efforts to promote House Bill 1483, an anti-bullying legislation he had authored, after Terry's death.
Although the bipartisan bill was passed by the state House in February, it stalled in the state Senate until Terry Badger III's suicide brought renewed attention to the issue.
Nearly 100,000 people signed a Change.org petition, prompting the Indiana General Assembly to take action. The bill passed the state Senate 46-3 on April 27 and was signed into law by the governor on May 4.
Support for Anti-Bullying Measures
The passing of the TB3 law has been met with widespread support from advocates of anti-bullying measures.
Democratic state Rep. Vernon G. Smith, the author of the bill, expressed his appreciation for the legislation's approval. Smith conveyed his gratitude to the leadership for enabling the bill to progress through the process, according to NBC.
Smith added that the legislation may not be a complete solution, but it could be a step forward in resolving the problem of bullying. He believes that the law will help move society closer to a resolution of the issue.
Terry Badger III's parents also spoke out in their first interview since the bill was signed into law. They expressed their certainty that their son was saving other kids' lives and their pride in what he has helped to do for the state of Indiana.
In a recent email to NBC News, Brady Scott, the superintendent of the Covington school district, asserted that the school had implemented appropriate measures to safeguard Terry. He referred to a statement that mentioned a third-party inquiry conducted by an Indiana law firm into the school's anti-bullying policy, handbook, and documents related to Terry.
The investigation concluded that the school had reacted to any concerns raised and followed established procedures by collaborating directly with students. However, Terry's parents hold a different view and maintain that the school's response was inadequate.
Robyn Badger stated that if she had known that this was going to happen, she would have immediately removed her son from school.
