Existing law requires a public school, including a charter school, or a private school, that serves pupils in any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, that issues pupil identification cards, and a public or private institution of higher education that issues student identification cards, to have printed on the identification cards the telephone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and authorizes those schools to have printed on the identification cards certain other suicide-prevention and emergency-response telephone numbers.

This bill would, commencing July 1, 2025, require a public school, including a charter school, or a private school, school, as applicable, that serves pupils in any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, that issues pupil identification cards, and a public or private institution of higher education that issues student identification cards, cards to additionally have printed on the identification cards the telephone number for the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights for assistance related to Title IX. Title IX Coordinator for the public school or, for a private school, the appropriate contact, and would authorize those public and private schools to have printed on the identification cards certain other telephone numbers of resources for Title IX assistance.

Existing law requires a public school, including a charter school, or a private school, that serves pupils in any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, that issues pupil identification cards, and a public or private institution of higher education that issues student identification cards, to have printed on the identification cards the telephone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and authorizes those schools to have printed on the identification cards certain other suicide-prevention and emergency-response telephone numbers.

This bill would, commencing July 1, 2025, require a public school, including a charter school, or a private school, that serves pupils in any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, that issues pupil identification cards, and a public or private institution of higher education that issues student identification cards, to additionally have printed on the identification cards the telephone number for the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights for assistance related to Title IX.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON

Senator Anna Caballero, Chair

2023 - 2024 Regular Session

SB 1378 (Min) - Pupil and student safety: identification cards: federal Title IX assistance telephone number

Bill Summary:

This bill would require public and private schools that serve pupils in any of grades 7 to 12 and Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) that issue student identification cards to include additional contacts for assistance related to Title IX.

Fiscal Impact:

• The UC and CSU indicate that any costs resulting from this measure would be minor and absorbable within existing resources.
• The bill’s requirement for K-12 school and community college districts could result in a state mandate. However, the costs are expected to be minor and would not meet the Commission’s minimum threshold for a school district to file a mandate claim.
• This bill could result in additional workload for the California Civil Rights Department to respond to calls from students and provide assistance related to Title IX. The extent of these costs is unknown and would depend on a variety of factors, including the number of students who call for assistance, the complexity of their issues, and the amount of staff time necessary for each call. On the low end, the California Civil Rights Department indicates that the General Fund costs would be approximately $1.25 million each year.

Background:

Existing law requires, commencing July 1, 2019, a public school, including a charter school, or a private school, that serves pupils in any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, and that issues pupil identification cards shall have printed on either side of the pupil identification cards the telephone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and may have printed the Crisis Text Line and a local suicide prevention hotline.

Existing law requires, commencing July 1, 2019 a public or private IHE that issues student identification cards shall have printed on either side of the student identification cards the telephone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and may have printed the Crisis Text Line and a local suicide prevention hotline.

Existing law requires, commencing October 1, 2020, a public school, including a charter school, or a private school, that serves pupils in any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, and that issues pupil identification cards shall have printed on either side of the pupil identification cards the telephone number for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Existing law requires, commencing October 1, 2020, a public or private IHE that issues student identification cards shall have printed on either side of the student identification cards the telephone number for either the National Domestic Violence Hotline or a local domestic violence hotline.

Existing law requires each campus of a California State University (CSU) and the California Community Colleges (CCC), and request each campus of the University of California (UC), with a campus mental health hotline to have printed on either side of student identification cards the telephone number of their mental health hotline or the city’s or county’s mental health hotline, for which the campus is located, if the campus does not have a campus mental health hotline.

Proposed Law:

This bill would require public and private schools that serves pupils in any of grades 7 to 12 and that issues student identification cards, beginning July 1, 2025, to include the following for assistance related to Title IX:

1. The telephone number of the Title IX Coordinator for the public school or, for a private school, the appropriate contact.
2. The telephone number of the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights for assistance related to Title IX.
3. The telephone number of the Civil Rights Department for assistance related to Title IX.
4. The telephone number for the Office of Equity, Civil Rights, Title IX at the State Department of Education.

This bill would require a public or private IHE that issues student identification cards, beginning July 1, 2025, to include the following for assistance related to Title IX:

1. The telephone number of the Title IX Coordinator for the public school or, for a private school, the appropriate contact.
2. The telephone number of the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights for assistance related to Title IX.
3. The telephone number of the Civil Rights Department for assistance related to Title IX.

Related Legislation: SB 1063 (Grove, 2024) would expressly authorize a school district to include on pupil identification cards for pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, a QR code that links to the mental health resources internet website of the county in which the school district is located. This bill is pending in the Assembly.

SB 1375 (Jackson, Chapter 665, Statutes of 2016) requires schools to post information on their websites relative to the designated Title IX coordinator, rights of students and responsibilities of schools, and a description of how to file a complaint.

AB 2122 (Choi, Chapter 183, Statutes of 2022) requires each campus of a CSU and the CCC, and request each campus of the UC, with a campus mental health hotline to have printed on either side of student identification cards the telephone number of their mental health hotline or the city’s or county’s mental health hotline, for which the campus is located, if the campus does not have a campus mental health hotline.

Staff Comments:

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. Title IX states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance[.]” All federal agencies that provide grants of financial assistance are required to enforce Title IX’s nondiscrimination mandate. The USDOE gives grants of financial assistance to schools and colleges and to certain other entities, including vocational rehabilitation programs and libraries.

Current law requires public and private schools and IHEs to include the telephone number of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline with the option to provide the Crisis Text Line and a local suicide prevention line. Existing law also requires public and private schools and IHEs, as specified, to include the telephone number of the National Domestic Violence Hotline or a local domestic violence hotline, as specified. This information is in addition to a student’s name, identification number, photo, barcode, school logo, or any other information that an IHE has deemed necessary to include. A student identification card is roughly the same size as a State Driver’s license. This bill requires student identification cards to additionally include resources for assistance related to Title IX.

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SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Senator Josh Newman, Chair

2023 - 2024 Regular

Bill No: Hearing Date: April 10, 2024

Subject:

SUMMARY

This bill would require public and private schools that serve pupils in any of grades 7 to 12 and Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) that issue student identification cards, beginning July 1, 2025, to include the telephone number for the United States Department of Education (USDOE) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) for assistance related to Title IX.

BACKGROUND

Existing Law:

Education Code (EC)

1. Requires, commencing July 1, 2019, a public school, including a charter school, or a private school, that serves pupils in any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, and that issues pupil identification cards shall have printed on either side of the pupil identification cards the telephone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and may have printed the Crisis Text Line and a local suicide prevention hotline. (EC § 215.5 (a)(1))
2. Requires, commencing July 1, 2019 a public or private IHE that issues student identification cards shall have printed on either side of the student identification cards the telephone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and may have printed the Crisis Text Line and a local suicide prevention hotline. (EC § 215.5 (b)(1)).
3. Requires, commencing October 1, 2020, a public school, including a charter school, or a private school, that serves pupils in any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, and that issues pupil identification cards shall have printed on either side of the pupil identification cards the telephone number for the National Domestic Violence Hotline. (EC § 215.5 (a)(2))
4. Requires, commencing October 1, 2020, a public or private IHE that issues student identification cards shall have printed on either side of the student identification cards the telephone number for either the National Domestic Violence Hotline or a local domestic violence hotline (EC § 215.5 (b)(2))
5. Requires each campus of a California State University (CSU) and the California Community Colleges (CCC), and request each campus of the University of California (UC), with a campus mental health hotline to have printed on either side of student identification cards the telephone number of their mental health hotline or the city’s or county’s mental health hotline, for which the campus is located, if the campus does not have a campus mental health hotline. (EC § 66027.8 et seq)

ANALYSIS

This bill would require public and private schools that serves pupils in any of grades 7 to 12 and IHE that issues student identification cards, beginning July 1, 2025, to include the telephone number for the USDOE’s OCR for assistance related to Title IX.

STAFF COMMENTS

1. Need for the bill. According to the author “Title IX protects students and employees in our education system from discrimination, sexual harassment and assault. Any student, regardless of their gender, may potentially face sexual harassment, which can interfere with their academic performance, as well as their emotional and physical well-being. Preventing and remedying sexual harassment in schools is essential to ensuring a safe learning environment for students. SB 1378 requires schools to print the phone number of their local Title IX Coordinator directly on student identification cards. Having this resource readily available will empower students and ensure they know where to go if they ever face discrimination, sexual harassment or assault on campus.”
2. Title IX. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. Title IX states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance[.]” All federal agencies that provide grants of financial assistance are required to enforce Title IX’s nondiscrimination mandate. The USDOE gives grants of financial assistance to schools and colleges and to certain other entities, including vocational rehabilitation programs and libraries.

The OCR enforces Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities (including sexual harassment, sexual violence and gender-based harassment), harassment and bullying, pregnant or parenting students, athletic opportunities and benefits) that receive federal financial assistance, Title IX also prohibits retaliation for filing an OCR complaint or for advocating for a right protected by Title IX and discrimination in employment, which is based on sex.

1. Title IX Coordinators and Enforcement. According to Title 34 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) 106.8, “Recipients [any State or political subdivision thereof, or any instrumentality of a State or political subdivision thereof, any public or private agency, institution, or organization, or other entity, or any person, to whom Federal financial assistance is extended directly or through another recipient and which operates an education program or activity which receives such assistance of federal funding (Title 34 CFR 106.2 (i)) recipient must notify applicants for admission and employment, students, parents or legal guardians of elementary and secondary school students, employees, and all unions or professional organizations holding collective bargaining or professional agreements with the recipient, of the name or title, office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number of the employee or employees designated as the Title IX Coordinator.”

For assistance related to civil rights, including Title IX, a person living in California, may contact the OCR headquarters office in Washington D.C through email ([email protected]) or telephone (800-421-3481/ Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) 800-877-8339). The OCR office in California, located in San Francisco, can also be contacted by email ([email protected]) or telephone (415-486-5555). To ensure schools comply with Title IX, the California Department of Education (CDE) has also established a Title IX coordinator and can be contacted via email or telephone.

While this bill requires public and private schools and IHEs, as specified, to include the telephone number for the USDOE’s OCR for assistance related to Title IX, there are Title IX coordinators at the state and local level. The committee may wish to consider providing an array of options for public and private schools and IHEs to include a Title IX coordinator on their student’s identification card.

1. Room For Information on Identification Cards? Current law requires public and private schools and IHEs, as specified, to include the telephone number of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline with the option to provide the Crisis Text Line and a local suicide prevention line. Statute also requires public and private schools and IHEs, as specified, to include the telephone number of the National Domestic Violence Hotline or a local domestic violence hotline, as specified. This information is in addition to a student’s name, identification number, photo, barcode, school logo, or any other information that an IHE has deemed necessary to include. A student identification card is roughly the same size as a State Driver’s license. Thus, only a finite amount of information can be affixed to a student identification card.

The Committee may wish to consider, when reviewing this and future proposals requiring content to be printed onto student identification cards, if the information should be transferred into a quick response (QR) code that can be affixed to a student’s identification card to save space. 

1. Committee Amendments. Committee staff recommends, and the author has agreed to accept, the following amendments:
   1. Clarify that a private school serving students in grades 7 to 12, that receives federal funding, must provide the appropriate Title IX contact on either side of a student’s ID card.
2. Related Legislation.

SB 1063 (Grove, 2024) This bill would expressly authorize a school district to include on pupil identification cards for pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, a QR code that links to the mental health resources internet website of the county in which the school district is located. This bill is set to be heard in Senate Education April 10.

SB 1375 (Jackson, Chapter 665, Statutes of 2016) requires schools to post information on their websites relative to the designated Title IX coordinator, rights of students and responsibilities of schools, and a description of how to file a complaint.

AB 2122 (Choi, Chapter 183, Statutes of 2022) requires each campus of a CSU and the CCC, and request each campus of the UC, with a campus mental health hotline to have printed on either side of student identification cards the telephone number of their mental health hotline or the city’s or county’s mental health hotline, for which the campus is located, if the campus does not have a campus mental health hotline.

SB 316 (Rubio, Chapter 270, Statutes of 2019) requires (1) public schools, including charter schools, that serve pupils in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, that issue pupil or student identification cards, beginning October 1, 2019, to print the telephone number for the National Domestic Violence Hotline on the back of those identification cards; and (2) requires public or private IHEs, that issue pupil or student identification cards, to print the telephone number for the National Domestic Violence Hotline or a local domestic violence hotline that provides confidential support services for students that have experienced domestic violence.

SB 972 (Portantino, Chapter 460, Statutes of 2018) requires schools that serve students in any of grades 7-12, and IHEs, that issue student identification cards to have printed on either side of the identification card the number for a suicide hotline.

SUPPORT

Faculty Association of California Community Colleges

Los Angeles County Office of Education

OPPOSITION

None received

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