In an ironic twist, a bill to help stop cyberbullying in California schools may end up in political limbo because of the governor's attempt to bully lawmakers into passing a state budget.

The measure by Assemblyman Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, gives educators the authority to suspend or expel bullies who use text messages or the Internet during school, going to or from school or during off-campus school activities, to pick on fellow students.

Assembly Bill 86 is nearing passage in the Legislature. After clearing the Senate on Monday, it headed back to the Assembly — where it already passed easily — in order for lawmakers to consider amendments tacked on in the Senate.

However, a frustrated Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger earlier this month turned up the pressure on lawmakers for their budget inaction by announcing he would veto any bill sent to him. So, once AB86 clears its remaining Assembly hurdle, it will be placed in some sort of legislative netherworld.

There is nothing new about kids bullying kids, but with today's instant-messaging and the growth of social-networking sites, the nastiness and embarrassing pictures can pop up everywhere: e-mails, blogs, chat rooms and Web sites.

Cyberbullies' meanness can be overwhelming and damaging to the student being targeted. Unfortunately, this new technology enables the bullying to occur anytime and anywhere. That once safe harbor, the home, is no longer a place to hide.

California is just the latest state to tackle this new and expanding type of bullying. In addition, many school districts are setting new policies to combat cyberbullying.

Much of this action was spurred by a 2006 incident that drove a Missouri teenager to commit suicide. Thirteen-year-old Megan Meier killed herself as a result of a cruel cyberhoax, engineered by the mother of one of her friends.

In May, the woman was indicted on charges of conspiracy and fraudulently gaining access to someone else's computer.

Reported cases of cyberbullying have increased since then. In fact, according to a recent i-Safe America survey, 42 percent of children have been bullied while online and one in four has had it happen more than once.

While it's easy to view cyberbullying as kids being kids, its dangerous impacts should not be ignored by parents, educators and politicians.

This should be a fairly easy call for Gov. Schwarzenegger to make when AB86 finally reaches his desk.