Gov. Terry Branstad has signed an executive order to create an office that will tackle school bullying in Iowa, a move that follows years of failed attempts to pass comprehensive legislation on the issue.

Branstad announced the order Monday at an elementary school in Cedar Rapids.

The order will establish a bullying prevention office through the University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Violence Prevention. The office will examine training opportunities, develop guidelines on various issues and address inconsistencies in data reporting of school bullying cases.

The new office’s responsibilities have similar language to proposed bills in recent years aimed at combating school bullying in Iowa. Branstad made the issue a legislative priority in the last two sessions. The effort failed to translate into legislation that could reach Branstad’s desk.