SB 592: Pupil safety: adolescent relationship abuse prevention.

(1)Existing law, the Interagency School Safety Demonstration Act of 1985, among other things, requires school districts and county offices of education to be responsible for the overall development of comprehensive school safety plans for its schools operating kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, and requires the schoolsite council of certain school districts to write and develop a comprehensive school safety plan. The act also requires the Department of Justice and the State Department of Education to contract with one or more professional trainers to provide training in the prevention of bullying.

This bill would define adolescent relationship abuse and a dating partner for purposes of the act, and would make specified findings and declarations and state legislative intent regarding adolescent relationship abuse. The bill would, among other things, require a comprehensive school safety plan to include the development of procedures and policies to prevent and respond to adolescent relationship abuse in middle and high schools serving pupils in any of grades 6 to 12, inclusive, which would be required to include specified actions. in collaboration with organizations with expertise in adolescent relationship abuse prevention and response. The bill would require encourage a schoolsite council of a middle school or high school serving any of grades 6 to 12, inclusive, or a school safety planning committee, to consult with local, state, or national organizations with expertise in adolescent relationship abuse prevention and response in developing the adolescent relationship abuse procedures and policies of their comprehensive school safety plan. The bill would require the governing board of each school district to notify the parent or guardian of a minor pupil at the beginning of the first semester or quarter of the regular school term of the adolescent relationship abuse procedures and policies, and how to make a complaint or help their child make a complaint of adolescent relationship abuse. The bill would additionally require the Department of Justice and the State Department of Education to contract with one or more professional trainers to provide training in the prevention of adolescent relationship abuse. The bill would also update references to dating violence and teen relationship violence to refer to adolescent relationship abuse. By imposing new duties on schools and school districts regarding the development and notification of adolescent relationship abuse procedures and policies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local. local program.

(2)This bill also would require school districts to provide educational programs that promote healthy relationships and prevent adolescent relationship abuse to pupils in grades 6 to 12, inclusive, through specific curriculum, extracurricular activities, and or school climate-improvement activities. The bill would authorize school districts to work in partnership with parents, caregivers, and youth, and with domestic violence, sexual assault, or other appropriate community-based organizations, as deemed appropriate by the school district, to provide these educational programs. The bill would require school districts to use research-based materials that are appropriate for pupils of all races, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and for pupils with disabilities in providing educational programs that promote healthy relationships and prevent adolescent relationship abuse. The bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to provide information, and would require provide, and would authorize school districts to use, information on the State Department of Educations Internet Web site about policies, procedures, and curriculum that are designed to promote healthy relationships and prevent adolescent relationship abuse among pupils. By requiring school districts to provide educational programs that promote healthy relationships and prevent adolescent relationship abuse, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

(3)This bill would make its provisions operative on July 1, 2016. The bill also would update references and make other nonsubstantive changes.

(4)The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.