I have strong inclinations toward both protecting kids from bullying and protecting kids from others abusing the system to their advantage by invoking laws like this. Thus, I tend to sit on the fence when it comes to laws such as this being passed at all, as I always fear they will be abused by someone due to things like difficulty defining "bullying", etc. I have an innate fear of compromising rights of free speech, even for a good cause, because doing so can and does bite us in the ass in ways we don't always think about when we're feeling understandably passionate about things like this.

However, from what I've been able to find and read on the actual law itself... I think I have to call bullshit right along with you, Tom. There's no good reason for this provision. All it does is give bullies an out. Religious bullies, no less, which are some of the worst kinds. *grumble*