RALEIGH, N.C. -- A bill requiring school districts in North Carolina to approve more detailed anti-bullying policies is headed to the House floor.

A House judiciary committee Tuesday approved the Senate measure on a party-line vote of 9-5, with Democrats in the majority.

Districts would have to create updated policies that at a minimum list the perceived characteristics of a person likely to be bullied.

Linda Griffin of Zebulon attended the meeting and said she took her autistic son out of the public schools because his teacher blamed him, in part, for being bullied. Griffin said the bill would protect more children.

Social conservatives and Christian leaders oppose the bill, in part, because sexual orientation and gender identity are among the characteristics required to be in the policies.