Federal officials say Minnesota needs to toughen up its anti-bullying law.
A Department of Education report on 46 states with laws against  bullying gives Minnesota the lowest marks for the lack of scope and definitions in its law. Minnesota's 37-word law is the shortest anti-bullying law in the nation. It was passed in 2006 and amended in 2008 to include cyberbullying. It requires school boards to adopt an anti- bullying policy that addresses intimidation and bullying in all forms. The federal report comes amid a growing focus on school bullying in the wake of school violence and high-profile youth suicides. Attorney General Lori Swanson has proposed legislation to strengthen the state law. She says Minnesota needs to set a strong tone that bullying isn't tolerated.