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National News

LEGISLATURE

Senate: No ifs, ands or butts -- pull up those pants

Tired of seeing teens' underwear, legislators are trying to pass a ban.

Posted on Fri, Mar. 14, 2008

BY MARY ELLEN KLAS
meklas@MiamiHerald.com

Is the butt-crack ban fair?
TALLAHASSEE

This will teach a lesson to those kids with droopy drawers:

State lawmakers want to crack down on butt cracks.

A bill to punish students who wear sagging pants that expose their back ends or sexual organs passed the Senate Thursday 28-11 after the two sponsors said it was needed to send kids a signal that they need to dress for success.

''I believe we must send a clear message that there are rules in this society that dictate that if you intended to get a job in a professional environment, you will not get that job with your underwear hanging over your trousers,'' said Sen. Larcenia Bullard, a Miami Democrat and co-sponsor of the measure.

The bill requires that schools enforce the following penalties: first offense, a verbal warning from the principal; second offense, three days of in-school suspension; third, 10 days in-school suspension; fourth, 10 days out-of-school suspension.

The tone of the Senate debate was more serious than it was on Wednesday, when jeering and jokes provoked talk about the bill ''opening the door just a little crack'' and senators' comments being ``brief.''

But sponsor Sen. Gary Siplin, an Orlando Democrat, called it a ''pro-family, pro-education, pro-employment bill.'' He said the fad began in prisons among inmates and kids should not be repeating it.

Opponents said they didn't like the bill because they believe parents should be their children's clothes police, not schools.

Bullard responded: ``Many times parents aren't even aware that their children are wearing their clothing in this way.''

An identical proposal has been passed by a House committee. It is sponsored by Bullard's husband, Rep. Ed Bullard, also a Miami Democrat.