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(Salt Lake City, KSL News) -- A Utah lawmaker is going to battle against bullying. Representative Duane Bourdeaux's anti-bullying bill has passed the House and now awaits a vote in the Senate.
The measure would track public school students' absenteeism to see if it is related to bullying or harassment, and hold parents accountable for their children's behavior.
Bourdeaux is urging parents to talk with their children.
"Ask some of the appropriate questions like 'why aren't you wanting to go to school? Why is it every Tuesday at a certain time you're getting sick and you're not wanting to go to school?'" Bourdeaux says.
The Education Resources Center says thousands of students in Utah miss one or more days a month from school because of intimidation.
And today Utah senators approved a bill that would require all middle and high school students in Utah to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at least once a week.
Most senators said the bill gave teachers the opportunity to explain the founding principles of democracy.
The bill contains provisions that allow students to opt out of the Pledge for religious beliefs or personal reasons.
