Bill Text: NY K00221 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2019, as Bullying Prevention Month in the State of New York

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2019-03-27 - adopted [K00221 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00221-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 221

BY: M. of A. DeStefano

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        April  2019,  as  Bullying  Prevention  Month in the
        State of New York

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of  this  Legislative  Body  to  recognize
official  months  that  are  set  aside to increase awareness of serious
issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  it  is the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2019, as Bullying
Prevention Month in the State of  New  York,  in  conjunction  with  the
observance of National Bullying Prevention Month; and

  WHEREAS,  Bullying is comprised of direct behaviors such as teasing,
taunting, threatening, hitting, and stealing that are initiated  by  one
or more students against a target, as well as indirect behaviors such as
spreading  rumors and acting in other ways to cause another person to be
socially  isolated  through  intentional  exclusion,   with   all   such
behaviors,  direct  or  indirect, amounting to physical or psychological
intimidation occurring repeatedly over time to create an ongoing pattern
of harassment and abuse; and

  WHEREAS,  Race,  age,  religion,   physical   disability,   physical
appearance,  socioeconomic  status  and various other factors can be the
basis of bullying and anyone can be a target; and

  WHEREAS, People who bully others are at increased risk for substance
abuse,  academic  problems,  and  violence  later  in  adolescence   and
adulthood;  in  addition,  those  individuals  who  stand  by  passively
watching or actively encouraging bullying are  also  affected  by  these
hostile  acts; they encourage bullying by creating an audience, they may
become desensitized to cruelty,  they  may  learn  to  imitate  bullying
behavior  and  become bullies themselves, and/or they may be fearful for
their own safety, adding to their own insecurity; and

  WHEREAS, Today, nearly 30% of all students  are  either  bullies  or
victims  of  bullying,  and  160,000  young people stay home from school
every day because of their fear of bullying; and

  WHEREAS, Throughout the past year, 19.6% of high school students  in
the  United  States  reported  being bullied at their school, as well as
14.8% who claimed they were bullied online; and

  WHEREAS, Individuals who choose to practice unselfish generosity and
who lead by example tend to leave a trail of positive feelings in  their
wake; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is imperative that there be continued public awareness
of this serious issue, and to encourage  all  New  Yorkers  to  practice
kindness toward all people; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2019, as Bullying
Prevention Month in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo.