Source: Fort Meyers News-Press, WINK-TV, PrideSource.com
Tallahassee, Fla. -- Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday signed the "Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up For All Students Act" into law.

Jeffrey Johnston was 15 in June 2005, just having finished his ninth-grade year at Ida S. Baker High in Cape Coral, when he killed himself. He would have graduated with his classmates who just received their diplomas June 1 at Harborside Event Center.

Jeff's mother, Debbie, led the crusade for Jeff's law.

"I worried about kidnappers, and murderers, and drugs, and alcohol, and gangs and all those things outside. I never for an instant considered that I'd lose my son by his own hand," Debbie Johnston said.

His mother says Jeff's suicide followed years of teasing and harassment, first in middle school, and continuing to high school; both to his face, and in statements online.

"But because there was no law, no crime had taken place," Johnston said. "Florida's got a law now."

Florida's new law requires school districts to adopt tough new anti-bullying policies and specifies the policies must address "cyber bullying" -- taunts and harassing messages delivered via the Internet, cell phone or other technology.

School districts could lose money if they don't comply with the law, which also requires schools to quickly investigate reports of bullying, provide counseling to bullies and their victims and promptly report incidents of bullying to parents and law enforcement, where appropriate.

Schools are advised to take action even if the bullying occurs off campus, through the Internet, or other telecommunications methods.

But as the News-Press points out, even if it had it been in effect in 2005 the legislation may not have prevented the series of events that eventually culminated in Jeff’s suicide because Lee County already had anti-bullying policies and procedures in place. The district did strengthen those after Jeff died.

However, the law is designed to require all Florida schools to develop anti-bullying policies and give them power to provide counseling both to the student being targeted and the bully.

Soon after her son's death, Debbie Johnston started fighting to protect other children, hoping to pass a law requiring schools to do more to notify parents and stop the teasing and harassment; and not just for the victims, but for the bullies as well.

"Jeff's law was not designed to be punitive. It was designed to protect students who become the victims of this person, and to get help and treatment for these kids who are exhibiting the bullying behavior."

It took Debbie Johnston nearly three years of trips to Tallahassee to get Jeff's Law passed. She committed to wearing one pair of shoes throughout that fight. Now, those shoes are retired and replaced, but her crusade is not over. Johnston says she's now pushing for national laws to protect kids across the country from bullying.

“I’m just really thrilled,” she said. “I feel like (Jeff is) happy, saying, ‘Job well done.’ It couldn’t have come at a better time.”

Full article: Anti-bullying measure named for Cape teen now law| WINK-TV
Anti-bullying measure named for Cape teen now law | Fort Meyers News-Press
Michigan Senate urged to fight bullying | PrideSource.com