After an intense, two-hour hearing, the Senate Education Committee has voted 5-3 to send SB 1105, a measure to strengthen Idaho's anti-bullying laws, to the Senate's amending order. The bill, co-sponsored by Sens. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint; John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene; and Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise; includes provisions calling for more education, training and attention to bullying issues, plus a provision making a third offense a misdemeanor rather than an infraction. Senators on the committee heard disturbing stories about children beaten up, harassed, threatened and repeatedly intimidated in Idaho schools; but some objected to the way the bill was worded and how it would go about trying to strengthen the law. In the end, the sponsors said they'd be willing to amend the bill to remove the criminal-penalty section, to, as LeFavour said, "make sure that we truly do, this year, improve our bullying statutes."