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Anti-Bullying Bill Falls Short in Senate

A push to make Illinois schools adopt more thorough policies to prevent bullying fell short in the state Senate Tuesday.

  The legislation would have required schools to spell out how they would investigate allegations and what would happen to students caught bullying. Senator Heather Steans, the Chicago Democrat who sponsored the measure,  says schools have asked the state to clarify its anti-bullying policies:  "This is a growing problem in the state, over 52 percent of students in Illinois say they have been verbally harassed."

But conservative groups,  like the Illinois Family Institute,  fear the legislation would be used as cover to lecture students on embracing homosexuality.  They wanted the measure to include an "opt-out'' provision letting students and teachers skip any lessons that violated their religious beliefs.  But supporters of the measure say it isn't about indoctrinating people.

The measure fell just one vote short, so backers could try to move the bill again later this year.

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