DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Lawmakers are moving quickly to build new protections that prevent gay and lesbian students from being harassed due to their sexual orientation.

The measure won overwhelming approval Wednesday in the Senate Education Committee, and a similar version was emerging from the House Education Committee.

“This is an acute problem in our schools,” said Sen. Michael Connolly, D-Dubuque. “It’s a real issue for our schools, and this is a great day for the kids because they are going to be safer.”

Brad Anderson, a spokesperson for Gov. Chet Culver, said the governor favored the measure and would sign it if it reaches his desk as expected.

Former Gov. Tom Vilsack initially proposed the measure during his Condition of the State speech in 2004, but it never got serious consideration. Gay rights activists have made the measure one of their top priorities, arguing that openly gay students are routinely harassed.

Connolly cited studies showing that more than 60 percent of gay students say they don’t feel safe in school, while more than 80 percent say they have been harassed over their sexual orientation.

The measure requires that schools develop anti-bullying policies and train staffers on dealing with the issue. In addition, schools would have to report incidents of harassment to state education officials. Only 77 school districts have such a policy.

Critics urged that lawmakers broaden the measure to simply ban bullying in school. Backers said the measure should single out sexual orientation because there’s a track record of gay students being harassed.

The Senate panel approved the measure 11-4, although more debate is likely in the full Senate and additional changes could be made.

Sen. Jeff Angelo, R-Creston, said the measure would apply to private and public schools. Many of the private schools are church affiliated, including many who have a doctrine labeling homosexuality a sin, he said. Those schools would be required to protect openly gay students, although their sexual orientation runs counter to church doctrine.