A big priority of the Hawaii State Legislature’s Keiki Caucus is to crack down on bullying in schools.

The measures proposed for the current session include appropriating  funds to support anti-bullying and suicide prevention efforts in public schools and requiring educational institutions and all “youth-serving agencies” to create and implement anti-bullying policies.

Another bill asks the state Office of Youth Services to coordinate a five-year “safe places for youth” pilot program to establish a network of safe places “where youth in crisis can access safety and services.”

The Keiki Caucus is a bipartisan group of 27 House and Senate members supported by dozens of community advocates. Read the group’s full list of bills here.

The bullying bills have the support of Senate President Ron Kouchi, who says his home island of Kauai has suffered a rash of suicides related to bullying.