Curran signs law to create Nassau County anti-bullying website

Amelia Camurati
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran signs a bill introduced by Legislator Josh Lafazan (D-Syosset) to implement an anti-bullying website through the county. (Photo courtesy of Nassau County)

A new Nassau County-operated anti-bullying website will launch at the end of August after a push by the county’s youngest legislator.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran (D-Balwdin) signed on Wednesday a law ordering the creation of NassauStopBullying.org, a prevention and education website in conjunction with the Nassau County Police Department and the county’s Department of Health and Human Services.

“When a young person is being bullied, their families might not know where to turn or how to seek relief. This new website will ensure that critical, potentially life-saving resources are just a click away,” county Legislator Josh Lafazan (D-Woodbury) said. “I am deeply grateful to my colleagues for their support and proud to stand with County Executive Curran in this effort to make Nassau County schools safer places for all students to reach their maximum potential.”

The bill was approved unanimously by the legislature at their July 9 meeting after Lafazan introduced the bill in June, which directs the county’s Department of Information Technology to create a website including definitions of bullying, explanations of types of bullying, guidance for spotting bullying and prevention resources for students and parents as well as teachers and administrators.

“There is no excuse for bullying,” Curran said. “And bullying can happen anywhere, at any time. That is why it is so important that we do all we can to protect our youth while educating our children, parents, educators and communities on bullying prevention. Legislator Lafazan’s initiative will streamline that process by making important anti- bullying resources and information more accessible to all our residents.”

The website will also contain resources for young people being bullied because of their sexual orientation and gender identity, Lafazan said.

The law requires the site be online by Aug. 31, be updated regularly and contain names and contact information for each county school district’s Dignity for All Students Act school coordinator.

The Long Island Coalition Against Bullying has also pledged $10,000 for a public service announcement promoting the new website.

“This is an important step in ongoing efforts to combat bullying on Long Island and gives victims, families and schools more centralized resources in their time of need,” Joseph A. Salamone, executive director of the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying, said.

Reach reporter Amelia Camurati by email at acamurati@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516-307-1045, ext. 215, or follow her on Twitter @acamurati.

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