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> The Kogut Vision > BULLYING LEGISLATION
BULLYING LEGISLATIONKOGUT URGES QUICK ACTION ON ANTI-BULLYING BILL
CALLS MANDATORY TRAINING AND REPORTING A MUST
SPRINGIELD - Democratic candidate for Hampden County District Attorney, Michael T Kogut, today urged Massachusetts House and Senate Conferees to move quickly to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the anti-bullying legislation and get a bill to the Governor s desk. There is no need to delay any longer. We should be joining the 41 other states that have passed anti-bullying legislation and take this important step to protect children. As with child abuse and elder abuse, we have looked the other way on bullying for too long. It is time to act, Kogut stated
In a letter to two of the key conference committee members Kogut also urged legislators
to adopt the strongest language possible. As was the case with child abuse and elder abuse we,
for too long, ignored the problem. When I served as Massachusetts first Assistant Attorney
General for Elder Protection I saw first-hand the tremendous importance and impact mandatory
training and mandatory reporting had on the protection of our seniors. Our children deserve no
less. Without those two components the legislation is meaningless, Kogut stated in his correspondence to Sen. Michael R. Knapik R-Westfield and Rep. John W. Scibalk D-South Hadley.
The House version is a much stronger piece of legislation in this regard because it
improves on the Senate legislation by requiring school officials, bus drivers, cafeteria workers,
teachers, clerical staff and others to report any act of bullying. If the principal determines that the
bullying rises to the level of a criminal act they would be required to report the event to law
enforcement authorities.
Kogut praised the inclusion of language to require notification of parents of those students involved but also urged the legislature to amend the legislation to include fines for school employees who do not report bullying.
In 1996 Mike Kogut was appointed by then Attorney General Scott Harshbarger as the
state's first Assistant Attorney General for Elder Protection. In that leadership role Mike
advanced the national elder protection initiatives in health care, finance, legal and consumer
areas affecting vulnerable senior citizens for the National Association of Attorneys General
(NAAG). He is currently a candidate for District Attorney of Hampden County.
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THE ONLY CANDIDATE WITH A PLAN TO HELP VICTIMS As District Attorney I will make victims' rights a top agenda item of my administration. I will strengthen and enhance victim witness services in the District Attorney's office.
I will work closely with other public and private agencies by creating a victims' advisory board made up of public and private professionals who provide vicitms' services, medical professionals and victims and their families.
I will establish based on the Middlesex County model a public-private program that enlists private lawyers to provide free legal assistance to victims of domesitc violence during the restraining order process.
I will establish a web site that will provide up to date information on resources, procedures, and other information available to support and protect victims, witnesses and thier families.
I will strongly and consistently advocate for the full funding of SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) program, Domestic violence and sexual assault sevices and RISE (Refugee and Immigrant Safety and Empowerment)services.
I will fight for the passage of the following significant pieces of legislation which will enhance protections for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
* Senate Bill 2274: This bill provides housing rights and protections for victims of domestic violence, rape sexual assault and stalking. It prevents denial based on one's status as a victim of abuse.
* Senate Bill 2382 (formerly Senate 673): This bill would protect employees who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking from being penalized in the workplace for taking time off to address issues related to being a victim of such crimes and creates important model workplace safety and policy procedures for employees.
*Senate Bill 1559: This bill would provide additional protections and enhance the rights of child and adult victims and witnesses of crimes.
It was once said, "Justice is not done until victims are served." If elected District Attorney I will make that saying the mission of my office.
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