Legislators Propose Amending Anti-Bullying Laws In Wake Of Bayville Teen Suicide

TRENTON, NJ — In the wake of the suicide of Central Regional High School student Adriana Kuch, the 9th Legislative District says they are drafting new legislation that would strengthen the response to physical bullying in schools.

Kuch, 14, took her own life after she was attacked in school. The attack was filmed and spread via social media, and her death has sent shockwaves through the Berkeley community and across the country.

The four involved in the attack have since been charged, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office told Patch, but at first the response was only a suspension from school.

State Sen. Christopher Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove plan to introduce legislation that would require schools to immediately report assaults on students that cause injury to police.

"Amending state law would provide consistency, meaning that an incident of assault would no longer be dealt with as a matter of a school's individual policy," the delegation said in a release.

Any assault on school property resulting in injury to a student should be treated the same as an assault anywhere else, Connors, Rumpf and Gove said.

The three aren't the only legislators proposing change. State Sen. Shirley Turner (D-15) told InsiderNJ that anti-bullying laws need to go further to protect all students, not just those of a protected class.

Dianne Grossman, a NJ mother whose daughter took her own life, sparking the "Mallory's Army" movement and push to get the anti-bullying "Mallory's Law" passed in the state, previously told Patch that stricter penalties should have been enacted on the four who attacked Kuch.

"Kids really, truly believe that it is ok to videotape themselves, post it on social media and nothing will happen to them," she said. "They cannot predict consequences."

She questioned why the attackers were not immediately charged with assault. "Those girls should have been marched out in handcuffs," Grossman said.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Spanish speakers can call 1-888-628-9454. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can call 1-800-799-4889.

Previous Coverage:

'We Want Justice': Central Students Protest After Classmate's Death

'Wonderful And Brave': Memorial Fund Created For Bayville Teen

Central Superintendent Resigns In Aftermath Of Student Death

4 Central Teens Charged In Recorded Attack Following Student's Suicide

Memorial Vigil Honors Bayville Teen After Suicide

Officials Speak Out Following Bullied Bayville Teen Suicide