365Gay.com reports that  Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) is likely to sign legislation that would require school districts to prohibit bullying and harassment. The Senate passed the bill unanimously on Wednesday. It has already passed the House.

Crist said, ”I’m against bullying, too,” he said.

The legislation mandates that Florida’s school districts must create specific policies to deal with bullying that includes methods of investigating and punishments. It also bans cyber bullying.

The districts would have to comply by December 1 or risk losing state funds. The legislation does not, however, list specific categories of students that are protected.

During debate Sen. Nan Rich (D) asked, “Does the bill prohibit harassment based on a student’s actual or perceived disability, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity, physical appearance, sexual orientation or other distinguishing personal characteristic in the exactly the same way that it prohibits sexual, racial or religious harassment, which are specified in the bill?”