State lawmakers file bill to protect children from cyber bullying

Texas lawmakers are hoping to prevent cyber bullying with the help of “David’s Law.”

State Senator Jose Menendez and Representative Ina Minjarez, officially filed the bill aimed at combating and preventing cyber-bullying Monday.

“As a father of three children, I know Texas must stand up to bullies,” said Senator Menendez. “This law will give parents, schools, and law enforcement more tools to go after people that prey on students.”

David’s Law was named after David Molak, a San Antonio student who tragically took his own life after online harassment and cyber-bullying. Maurine and Matt Molak, the parents of David, joined Senator Menendez and Representative Minjarez as they filed the bills. Leo Vasquez, whose son was bullied online and has worked on the legislation, was also present.

“David’s Law is a bipartisan bill,” said Representative Ina Minjarez. “As a child, I could escape my tormentors when I got home. Now with technology, children are being cyberbullied twenty-four hours a day. We owe it to the youth of Texas to take action on their behalf.”

David’s Law will prevent and combat bullying in schools through several measures, it will require school districts to include cyber-bullying polices in their district polices on bullying and notify parents if their child has been the victim of bullying or is the alleged aggressor.

It will require school districts to develop a system to anonymously report bullying and threats, give school districts the ability to investigate bullying off campus if it materially affects the school environment and it will allow schools and law enforcement to collaborate on investigations.

The law will also make it a misdemeanor to electronically harass or bully anyone under the age of 18 through text messages, social media, websites, apps, or other means and focus on providing additional counseling and rehabilitation services to the victim and the aggressor.

The legislative session begins in January.