NYS one step closer to cyber bully law

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) - The tragic suicide of Williamsville North student Jamey Rodemeyer has inspired a national movement against bullying and a new law is in the making.

Seven months after her brother Jamey's suicide, Alyssa Rodemeyer remains at the forefront of a national movement against bullying. Lady Gaga is now planning a "Monster March Against Bullying" in San Francisco this October.

"I feel better because I'm helping other people," she said.

Williamsville North graduate Brittany Lavonier added, "It's like teens coming together and just trying to make things better, because there's so many teens out there who've been bullied and comitted suicide."

Lavonier started an online petition, which now has 6,000 signatures, supporting nationwide legislation against cyber bullying. At the state level, Senator Mike Ranzenhofer has already sponsored cyber bullying legislation because right now the laws dealing with harassment don't focus on the internet.

"Well, the difference is that with cyber bullying we've defined it as using abusive behavior over a period of time and doing that through mechanical and electronic means," he explained.

But whether new laws ever get passed, Rodemeyer said, "People can open their hearts, they can be more kind, be more respectful toward people, more open-minded towards other things, and really if you just open your heart to people that will make a huge difference."

Senator Ranzenhofer is hoping that his legislation comes up for vote next Thursday in the Senate Education Committee. That would be the first hurdle. You can read his legislation here.