AUSTIN — The Texas Senate is hearing testimony on several bills that aim to ban bullying in schools.

The Senate Committee on Education heard from parents and advocates Tuesday on different versions of legislation that would
prohibit bullying, including cyber bullying.

Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth filed a bill she said would give Texas one of the most comprehensive anti-bullying statutes in the nation. The legislation requires school officials to be trained to identify bullying signs and learn effective response methods.

Davis' bill also would change the state's current practice of sending the victim to another school, moving the aggressor
elsewhere instead.

Legislators have seen statewide concern about bullying because of student suicides. Since the 2009 legislative session, bullying is the suspected cause of four Texas students who committed suicide.