Oklahoma House kills cyberbullying bill

Rep. Lee Denney, author of House Bill 1461, said she was surprised the House defeated the measure 52-44. An earlier version of the bill passed the House in March with a 74-23 vote.

Denney, R-Cushing, said, because of the margin of defeat, she did not seek to try to have the measure brought up for another vote before the end of this year's session, which could be Friday, a week earlier than scheduled. According to House rules, a bill that fails on the House floor cannot be heard again during the two-year session. The 53rd legislative session, which began in February, ends next year.

“It absolutely shocked me,” she said.

Rep. Pam Peterson, R-Tulsa, debated against the measure, saying it was another mandate being placed on public schools.

“This is overkill,” she said. “There's quite a bit of reporting, teaching materials, curriculum, reporting back to us in the House.”

Denney authored the bill because a child in her district, Ty Field, 11, shot and killed himself last year after reportedly being bullied at school earlier in the day.