Major NJ Anti-Bullying 'Mallory's Law' Awaits Gov. Phil Murphy's Signature

ROCKAWAY, NJ — "Mallory's Law" is just a signature away from becoming New Jersey law.

Named after Mallory Grossman, who took her own life in 2017, the bill is designed to strengthen and formalize schools' anti-bullying policies. Mallory's mother, Dianne Grossman, has fought for four years for anti-bullying legislation to prevent repeats of her daughter's fate.

The bill, which already passed in the State Senate, received a 65-1-4 vote Monday in the State Assembly.

"One step closer to bringing change to our schools," the Facebook page for Mallory's Army says. "Thank you, to everyone who helped make this possible."

The bill includes several provisions, including the following:

• Under current cyber-harassment law, a court may order a parent or guardian of a child under 16 to attend classes or training with their kid. Mallory's Law would increase the fines for failing to comply, increasing from $25 to $100 for the first offense and $100 to $500 for each subsequent offense.
• Parents or guardians may face civil liability if they demonstrate "a willful or wanton disregard in the exercise of the supervision and control of a minor adjudicated delinquent of cyber-harassment or harassment."
• The bill formalizes a written process for reporting potential bullying. The school principal must receive the written report within two days of school staff witnessing or receiving "reliable information" of potential harassment, intimidation of bullying (HIB).
• The form must be completed even if the school district determines the report falls outside the HIB scope. But an investigation into the potential violation must be completed as soon as possible and no later than 10 days after receiving the written report.

Grossman told Patch on Dec. 1 that the bill is a "base hit," which she hopes will create greater momentum for reigning in the issue. In the future, she would like to see New Jersey develop a criminal aspect to cyberbullying and see it classified as a hate crime.

"I think people are going to expect more from it than it really is going to give them," Grossman said. "No World Series was won without base hits, so that's how I look at it."

"Mallory's Law" coverage:

• Major NJ Anti-Bullying 'Mallory's Law' Hits Statehouse Floor
• 'The Right Kid Hasn't Died Yet:' The Fight To Pass Mallory's Law
• 6 Of The Most Disturbing Claims In NJ Bullying Death Lawsuit
• 1 Year Later, Mallory Grossman Lives On In Anti-Bullying Efforts
• Mallory Grossman's Mom Shares Painful New Bullying Details
• Bullying Of Mallory Grossman, 12, Detailed In Wrongful Death Suit
• 'Mallory's Army' Fights Back Against Bullying After 12-Year-Old's Sudden Death