Parents of boy who died by suicide urge passage of anti-bullying law

Lawmakers were joined at the state Capitol on Wednesday morning by the parents of a Saratoga County boy who took his own life. They were calling for passage of a bill for schools to notify parents when their child is bullied.

It’s called “Jacobe’s Law.”

The law is named after Jacobe Taras, 13, of Moreau, who killed himself in 2015.

Jacobe’s parents were also joined by a Niskayuna anti-bullying advocate who received a traumatic brain injury from a school bully.

Although schools are required to report incidents to the New York State Education Department, supporters say the Dignity For All Students Act does not currently require schools to alert parents when there is bullying.

A Saratoga County jury found the South Glens Falls School District guilty of negligence in 2018, but not guilty of causing Jacobe’s pain or death.