SB 998: Educational equity: discrimination prevention coordinators.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2026-09-27
Current Status:
Passed
(2026-09-27: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 670, Statutes of 2026.)
Introduced
In Committee
Awaiting First Chamber Vote
Passed First Chamber
In Committee
Awaiting Second Chamber Vote
Passed Second Chamber
Enacted
What does this bill do?
The bill expands the state Office of Civil Rights by adding a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, creating deputy coordinators focused on specific racial and ethnic groups, and renaming the LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to LGBTQ+. Those coordinators must give schools training and resources, help districts use restorative justice and resolve discrimination early, provide guidance on cases involving overlapping protected traits (intersectionality), and begin tracking and reporting discrimination complaints by type.
The summary is provided by generative AI which can make mistakes. For original language, please view the details in the table below.
Existing law states the policy of the State of California is to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other specified characteristic, equal rights and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state. Existing law establishes the Office of Civil Rights, under the administration of the Government Operations Agency. Existing law requires the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and an LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. Existing law requires each of the coordinators be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
This bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The bill would change the title of the LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to instead be the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill would require each of the coordinators, in consultation with the State Department of Education, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, to, among other things, (1) develop, consult on, and provide discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent discrimination, as provided, (2) provide technical assistance, upon specified request, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners, and (3) engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents of discrimination, as specified.
This bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (Anti-AANHPI) Discrimination, a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, and a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Native American Discrimination, and would require these deputy coordinators to report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as provided.
Existing law states the policy of the State of California is to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other specified characteristic, equal rights and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state. Existing law establishes the Office of Civil Rights, under the administration of the Government Operations Agency. Existing law requires the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and an LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. Existing law requires each of the coordinators be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
This bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The bill would change the title of the LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to instead be the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill would require each of the coordinators, in consultation with the State Department of Education, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, to, among other things, (1) develop, consult on, and provide discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent discrimination, as provided, (2) provide technical assistance, upon specified request, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners, and (3) engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents of discrimination, as specified.
This bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (Anti-AANHPI) Discrimination, a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, and a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Native American Discrimination, and would require these deputy coordinators to report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as provided.
Existing law states the policy of the State of California is to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other specified characteristic, equal rights and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state. Existing law establishes the Office of Civil Rights, under the administration of the Government Operations Agency. Existing law requires the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and an LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. Existing law requires each of the coordinators be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
This bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The bill would change the title of the LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to instead be the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill would require each of the coordinators, in consultation with the State Department of Education, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, to, among other things, (1) develop, consult on, and provide discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent discrimination, as provided, (2) provide technical assistance, upon specified request, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners, and (3) engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents of discrimination, as specified.
This bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (Anti-AANHPI) Discrimination, a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, and a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Native American Discrimination, and would require these deputy coordinators to report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as provided.
Existing law states the policy of the State of California is to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other specified characteristic, equal rights and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state. Existing law establishes the Office of Civil Rights, under the administration of the Government Operations Agency. Existing law requires the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and an LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. Existing law requires each of the coordinators be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
This bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The bill would change the title of the LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to instead be the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill would require each of the coordinators, in consultation with the State Department of Education, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, to, among other things, (1) develop, consult on, and provide discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent discrimination, as provided, (2) provide technical assistance, upon specified request, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners, and (3) engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents of discrimination, as specified.
This bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (Anti-AANHPI) Discrimination, and a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, and a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Native American Discrimination, and would require these deputy coordinators to report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as provided.
Existing law states the policy of the State of California is to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other specified characteristic, equal rights and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state. Existing law establishes the Office of Civil Rights, under the administration of the Government Operations Agency. Existing law requires the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and an LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. Existing law requires each of the coordinators be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
This bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The bill would change the title of the LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to instead be the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill would require each of the coordinators, in consultation with the State Department of Education, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, to, among other things, (1) develop, consult on, and provide discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent discrimination, as provided, (2) provide technical assistance, upon specified request, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners, and (3) engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents of discrimination, as specified.
This bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander (Anti-AAPI) American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (Anti-AANHPI) Discrimination, and a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, and would require these deputy coordinators to report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as provided.
Existing law states the policy of the State of California is to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other specified characteristic, equal rights and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state. Existing law establishes the Office of Civil Rights, under the administration of the Government Operations Agency. Existing law requires the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and an LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. Existing law requires each of the coordinators be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
This bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The bill would change the title of the LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to instead be the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill would require each of the coordinators, in consultation with the State Department of Education, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, to, among other things, (1) develop, consult on, and provide discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent discrimination, as provided, (2) provide technical assistance assistance, upon specified request, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners, and (3) engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents of discrimination, as specified.
This bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander (Anti-AAPI) Discrimination, and a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, and would require these deputy coordinators to report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as provided.
Existing law states the policy of the State of California is to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other specified characteristic, equal rights and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state. Existing law establishes the Office of Civil Rights, under the administration of the Government Operations Agency. Existing law requires the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and an LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. Existing law requires each of the coordinators be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
This bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The bill would change the title of the LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to instead be the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill would require each of the coordinators, in consultation with the State Department of Education, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, to, among other things, (1) develop, consult on, and provide discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent discrimination, as provided, (2) provide technical assistance to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners, and (3) engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents of discrimination, as specified.
This bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander (Anti-AAPI) Discrimination, and a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, and would require these deputy coordinators to report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill would require the Office of Civil Rights to provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as provided.
Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to initiate and carry on any program, activity, or to act in any manner that is not in conflict with or inconsistent with, or preempted by, any law and that is not in conflict with the purposes for which school districts are established.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to that provision.Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to initiate and carry on any program, activity, or to act in any manner that is not in conflict with or inconsistent with, or preempted by, any law and that is not in conflict with the purposes for which school districts are established.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to that provision.
(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as listed in Section 220.
(b)The discrimination prevention coordinators established pursuant to this chapter may collaborate with one another, within the purview of their roles and responsibilities, on issues of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as listed in Section 220.
SEC. 2.Section 33803 of the Education Code is repealed.SEC. 3.Section 33803.2 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.2.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide religious discrimination related education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent religious discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available trainings that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to religious discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to religious discrimination, disaggregated by religious groups in California, in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive. It is the intent of the Legislature that this report include disaggregated data for the top religious groups targeted for hate crimes, consistent with the most recent report on hate crimes by the Attorney General, including, but not limited to, anti-Muslim, anti-Jewish, anti-Hindu, anti-Catholic, and anti-Sikh discrimination.
(B)The report pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful religious discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of religious discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 4.Section 33803.3 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.3.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide culturally competent race and ethnicity discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent race and ethnicity discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to race and ethnicity discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to racial and ethnic discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)Pursuant to the tracking and reporting requirement of subparagraph (A), track and report complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to anti-immigrant discrimination.
(C)The reports pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful racial and ethnic discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of racial and ethnic discrimination in educational settings.
(c)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Blackness-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Black pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-Black racism against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Black racism at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Black racism within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Black education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Black racism.
(d)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (Anti-AANHPI) Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-AANHPI Discrimination shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-AANHPI-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-AANHPI discrimination against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-AANHPI discrimination at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-AANHPI discrimination within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-AANHPI discrimination.
(e)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Latino-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Latino pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-Latino discrimination against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Latino discrimination at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Latino discrimination within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Latino education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Latino discrimination.
(f)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Native American Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Native American Discrimination shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Native American-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Native American pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-Native American discrimination against pupils and local educational agency personnel, including, but not limited to, the requirements of Sections 221.3 and 35183.1, with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Native American discrimination at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Native American discrimination within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Native American education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Native American discrimination.
SEC. 5.Section 33803.4 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.4.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide gender-related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent gender discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to gender discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to gender discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful gender discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of gender discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 6.Section 33803.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.5.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide LGBTQ+ related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(4)Provide available information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate training, including, but not limited to, Providing Relevant, Inclusive Support that Matters (PRISM) training, for teachers, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to LGBTQ+ discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community, organizations that support LGBTQ+ youth, LGBTQ+ parent groups, and organizations that support transgender, gender nonbinary, and intersex youth, to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of LGBTQ+ discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 7.Section 33803.6 is added to the Education Code, to read:33803.6.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide disability-related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent disability discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to disability discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to disability-related discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that support the disability community, organizations that support pupils and youth with disabilities, organizations that support parents and guardians of pupils with disabilities and their families, to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful disability discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of disability discrimination in educational settings.
(c)This section does not alter the responsibilities of the department under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.) or its implementing regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 300 et seq.).
(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as listed in Section 220.
(b)The discrimination prevention coordinators established pursuant to this chapter may collaborate with one another, within the purview of their roles and responsibilities, on issues of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as listed in Section 220.
SEC. 2.Section 33803 of the Education Code is repealed.SEC. 3.Section 33803.2 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.2.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide religious discrimination related education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent religious discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available trainings that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to religious discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to religious discrimination, disaggregated by religious groups in California, in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive. It is the intent of the Legislature that this report include disaggregated data for the top religious groups targeted for hate crimes, consistent with the most recent report on hate crimes by the Attorney General, including, but not limited to, anti-Muslim, anti-Jewish, anti-Hindu, anti-Catholic, and anti-Sikh discrimination.
(B)The report pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful religious discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of religious discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 4.Section 33803.3 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.3.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide culturally competent race and ethnicity discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent race and ethnicity discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to race and ethnicity discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to racial and ethnic discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)Pursuant to the tracking and reporting requirement of subparagraph (A), track and report complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to anti-immigrant discrimination.
(C)The reports pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful racial and ethnic discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of racial and ethnic discrimination in educational settings.
(c)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Blackness-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Black pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-Black racism against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Black racism at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Black racism within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Black education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Black racism.
(d)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (Anti-AANHPI) Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-AANHPI Discrimination shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-AANHPI-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-AANHPI discrimination against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-AANHPI discrimination at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-AANHPI discrimination within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-AANHPI discrimination.
(e)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Latino-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Latino pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-Latino discrimination against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Latino discrimination at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Latino discrimination within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Latino education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Latino discrimination.
(f)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Native American Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Native American Discrimination shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Native American-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Native American pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-Native American discrimination against pupils and local educational agency personnel, including, but not limited to, the requirements of Sections 221.3 and 35183.1, with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Native American discrimination at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Native American discrimination within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Native American education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Native American discrimination.
SEC. 5.Section 33803.4 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.4.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide gender-related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent gender discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to gender discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to gender discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful gender discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of gender discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 6.Section 33803.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.5.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide LGBTQ+ related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(4)Provide available information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate training, including, but not limited to, Providing Relevant, Inclusive Support that Matters (PRISM) training, for teachers, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to LGBTQ+ discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community, organizations that support LGBTQ+ youth, LGBTQ+ parent groups, and organizations that support transgender, gender nonbinary, and intersex youth, to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of LGBTQ+ discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 7.Section 33803.6 is added to the Education Code, to read:33803.6.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide disability-related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent disability discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to disability discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to disability-related discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that support the disability community, organizations that support pupils and youth with disabilities, organizations that support parents and guardians of pupils with disabilities and their families, to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful disability discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of disability discrimination in educational settings.
(c)This section does not alter the responsibilities of the department under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.) or its implementing regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 300 et seq.).
(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as listed in Section 220.
(b)The roles and responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators established pursuant to this chapter shall not be limited to their specific title or discrimination subject to allow for flexibility in their roles.(b)The discrimination prevention coordinators established pursuant to this chapter may collaborate with one another, within the purview of their roles and responsibilities, on issues of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as listed in Section 220.
SEC. 2.Section 33803 of the Education Code is repealed.SEC. 3.Section 33803.2 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.2.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide religious discrimination related education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent religious discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available trainings that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to religious discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to religious discrimination, disaggregated by religious groups in California, in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive. It is the intent of the Legislature that this report include disaggregated data for the top religious groups targeted for hate crimes, consistent with the most recent report on hate crimes by the Attorney General, including, but not limited to, anti-Muslim, anti-Jewish, anti-Hindu, anti-Catholic, and anti-Sikh discrimination.
(B)The report pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful religious discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of religious discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 4.Section 33803.3 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.3.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide culturally competent race and ethnicity discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent race and ethnicity discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to race and ethnicity discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to racial and ethnic discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)Pursuant to the tracking and reporting requirement of subparagraph (A), track and report complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to anti-immigrant discrimination.
(C)The reports pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful racial and ethnic discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of racial and ethnic discrimination in educational settings.
(c)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Blackness-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Black pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-Black racism against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Black racism at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Black racism within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Black education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Black racism.
(d)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (Anti-AANHPI) Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-AANHPI Discrimination shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-AANHPI-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-AANHPI discrimination against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-AANHPI discrimination at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-AANHPI discrimination within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-AANHPI discrimination.
(e)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Latino-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Latino pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-Latino discrimination against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Latino discrimination at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Latino discrimination within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Latino education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Latino discrimination.
(f)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Native American Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Native American Discrimination shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Native American-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Native American pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-Native American discrimination against pupils and local educational agency personnel, including, but not limited to, the requirements of Sections 221.3 and 35183.1, with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Native American discrimination at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Native American discrimination within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Native American education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Native American discrimination.
SEC. 5.Section 33803.4 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.4.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide gender-related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent gender discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to gender discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to gender discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful gender discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of gender discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 6.Section 33803.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.5.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide LGBTQ+ related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(4)Provide available information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate training, including, but not limited to, Providing Relevant, Inclusive Support that Matters (PRISM) training, for teachers, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to LGBTQ+ discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community, organizations that support LGBTQ+ youth, LGBTQ+ parent groups, and organizations that support transgender, gender nonbinary, and intersex youth, to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of LGBTQ+ discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 7.Section 33803.6 is added to the Education Code, to read:33803.6.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide disability-related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent disability discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to disability discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to disability-related discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that support the disability community, organizations that support pupils and youth with disabilities, organizations that support parents and guardians of pupils with disabilities and their families, to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful disability discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of disability discrimination in educational settings.
(c)This section does not alter the responsibilities of the department under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.) or its implementing regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 300 et seq.).
(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as listed in Section 220.
(b)The roles and responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators established pursuant to this chapter shall not be limited to their specific title or discrimination subject to allow for flexibility in their roles.
SEC. 2.Section 33803 of the Education Code is repealed.SEC. 3.Section 33803.2 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.2.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide religious discrimination related education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent religious discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available trainings that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to religious discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to religious discrimination discrimination, disaggregated by religious groups in California, in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive. It is the intent of the Legislature that this report include disaggregated data for the top religious groups targeted for hate crimes, consistent with the most recent report on hate crimes by the Attorney General, including, but not limited to, anti-Muslim, anti-Jewish, anti-Hindu, anti-Catholic, and anti-Sikh discrimination.
(B)Pursuant to the tracking and reporting requirement of subparagraph (A), track and report complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to anti-Muslim discrimination.(C)(B)The reports report pursuant to subparagraphs subparagraph (A) and (B) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful religious discrimination.
(7)(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of religious discrimination in educational settings.
(B)Pursuant to the recommendation requirement of subparagraph (A), make recommendations on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Muslim discrimination.SEC. 4.Section 33803.3 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.3.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide culturally competent race and ethnicity discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent race and ethnicity discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to race and ethnicity discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to racial and ethnic discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)Pursuant to the tracking and reporting requirement of subparagraph (A), track and report complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to anti-immigrant discrimination.
(C)The reports pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful racial and ethnic discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of racial and ethnic discrimination in educational settings.
(c)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Blackness-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Black pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-Black racism against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Black racism at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Black racism within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Black education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Black racism.
(d)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (Anti-AANHPI) Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-AANHPI Discrimination shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-AANHPI-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-AANHPI discrimination against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-AANHPI discrimination at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-AANHPI discrimination within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-AANHPI discrimination.
(e)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Latino-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Latino pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-Latino discrimination against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Latino discrimination at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Latino discrimination within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Latino education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Latino discrimination.
(f)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Native American Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Native American Discrimination shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Native American-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Native American pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-Native American discrimination against pupils and local educational agency personnel, including, but not limited to, the requirements of Sections 221.3 and 35183.1, with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Native American discrimination at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Native American discrimination within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Native American education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Native American discrimination.
SEC. 5.Section 33803.4 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.4.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide gender-related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent gender discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to gender discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to gender discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful gender discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of gender discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 6.Section 33803.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.5.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide LGBTQ+ related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(4)Provide available information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate training, including, but not limited to, Providing Relevant, Inclusive Support that Matters (PRISM) training, for teachers, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to LGBTQ+ discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community, organizations that support LGBTQ+ youth, LGBTQ+ parent groups, and organizations that support transgender, gender nonbinary, and intersex youth, to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of LGBTQ+ discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 7.Section 33803.6 is added to the Education Code, to read:33803.6.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide disability-related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent disability discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to disability discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to disability-related discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that support the disability community, organizations that support pupils and youth with disabilities, organizations that support parents and guardians of pupils with disabilities and their families, to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful disability discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of disability discrimination in educational settings.
(c)This section does not alter the responsibilities of the department under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.) or its implementing regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 300 et seq.).
(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as listed in Section 220.
(b)The roles and responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators established pursuant to this chapter shall not be limited to their specific title or discrimination subject to allow for flexibility in their roles.
SEC. 2.Section 33803 of the Education Code is repealed.SEC. 3.Section 33803.2 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.2.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide religious discrimination related education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent religious discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available trainings that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to religious discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to religious discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)Pursuant to the tracking and reporting requirement of subparagraph (A), track and report complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to anti-Muslim discrimination.
(B)(C)The reports pursuant to subparagraph subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful religious discrimination.
(7)(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of religious discrimination in educational settings.
(B)Pursuant to the recommendation requirement of subparagraph (A), make recommendations on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Muslim discrimination.
SEC. 4.Section 33803.3 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.3.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide culturally competent race and ethnicity discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent race and ethnicity discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to race and ethnicity discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to racial and ethnic discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)Pursuant to the tracking and reporting requirement of subparagraph (A), track and report complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to anti-immigrant discrimination.
(C)The reports pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful racial and ethnic discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of racial and ethnic discrimination in educational settings.
(c)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Blackness-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Black pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-Black racism against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Black racism at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Black racism within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Black education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Black racism.
(d)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander (Anti-AAPI) American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (Anti-AANHPI) Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-AAPI Anti-AANHPI Discrimination shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-AAPI-related anti-AANHPI-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Asian American American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-AAPI anti-AANHPI discrimination against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-AAPI anti-AANHPI discrimination at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-AAPI anti-AANHPI discrimination within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Asian American American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-AAPI anti-AANHPI discrimination.
(e)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Latino-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Latino pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-Latino discrimination against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Latino discrimination at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Latino discrimination within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Latino education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Latino discrimination.
SEC. 5.Section 33803.4 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.4.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide gender-related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent gender discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to gender discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to gender discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful gender discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of gender discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 6.Section 33803.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.5.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide LGBTQ+ related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(4)Provide available information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate training, including, but not limited to, Providing Relevant, Inclusive Support that Matters (PRISM) training, for teachers, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to LGBTQ+ discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community, organizations that support LGBTQ+ youth, LGBTQ+ parent groups, and organizations that support transgender, gender nonbinary, and intersex youth, to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of LGBTQ+ discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 7.Section 33803.6 is added to the Education Code, to read:33803.6.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide disability-related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent disability discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to disability discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to disability-related discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that support the disability community, organizations that support pupils and youth with disabilities, organizations that support parents and guardians of pupils with disabilities and their families, to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful disability discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of disability discrimination in educational settings.
(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as listed in Section 220.
(b)The roles and responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators established pursuant to this chapter shall not be limited to their specific title or discrimination subject to allow for flexibility in their roles.
SEC. 2.Section 33803 of the Education Code is repealed.SEC. 3.Section 33803.2 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.2.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide religious discrimination related education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent religious discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available trainings that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to religious discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to religious discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful religious discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of religious discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 4.Section 33803.3 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.3.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide culturally competent race and ethnicity discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent race and ethnicity discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to race and ethnicity discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to racial and ethnic discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)Pursuant to the tracking and reporting requirement of subparagraph (A), track and report complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to anti-immigrant discrimination.
(C)The reports pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful racial and ethnic discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of racial and ethnic discrimination in educational settings.
(c)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Blackness-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Black pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-Black racism against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Black racism at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Black racism within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Black education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Black racism.
(d)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander (Anti-AAPI) Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-AAPI Discrimination shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-AAPI-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Asian American and Pacific Islander pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-AAPI discrimination against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-AAPI discrimination at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-AAPI discrimination within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Asian American and Pacific Islander education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-AAPI discrimination.
(e)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Latino-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Latino pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-Latino discrimination against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Latino discrimination at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Latino discrimination within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Latino education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Latino discrimination.
SEC. 5.Section 33803.4 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.4.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide gender-related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent gender discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to gender discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to gender discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful gender discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of gender discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 6.Section 33803.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.5.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide LGBTQ+ related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(4)Provide available information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate training, including, but not limited to, Providing Relevant, Inclusive Support that Matters (PRISM) training, for teachers, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to LGBTQ+ discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community, organizations that support LGBTQ+ youth, LGBTQ+ parent groups, and organizations that support transgender, gender nonbinary, and intersex youth, to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of LGBTQ+ discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 7.Section 33803.6 is added to the Education Code, to read:33803.6.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide disability-related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent disability discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a local educational agency, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to disability discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to disability-related discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)The reports pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall not include any personally identifiable information.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that support the disability community, organizations that support pupils and youth with disabilities, organizations that support parents and guardians of pupils with disabilities and their families, to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful disability discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of disability discrimination in educational settings.
(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as listed in Section 220.
(b)The roles and responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators established pursuant to this chapter shall not be limited to their specific title or discrimination subject to allow for flexibility in their roles.
SEC. 2.Section 33803 of the Education Code is repealed.33803.It is the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation to do both of the following:(a)Establish coordinators to be employed within the office to prevent and address discrimination and bias.(b)Enact the duties and responsibilities of the coordinators.SEC. 3.Section 33803.2 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.2.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide religious discrimination related education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent religious discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available trainings that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to religious discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to religious discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful religious discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of religious discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 4.Section 33803.3 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.3.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide culturally competent race and ethnicity discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent race and ethnicity discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to race and ethnicity discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)(A)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to racial and ethnic discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(B)Pursuant to the tracking requirement of subparagraph (A), track and report complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to anti-immigrant discrimination.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful racial and ethnic discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of racial and ethnic discrimination in educational settings.
(c)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Blackness-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Black pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-Black racism against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Black racism at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Black racism within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Black education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Black racism.
(d)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander (Anti-AAPI) Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-AAPI Discrimination shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-AAPI-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Asian American and Pacific Islander pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-AAPI discrimination against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-AAPI discrimination at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-AAPI discrimination within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Asian American and Pacific Islander education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-AAPI discrimination.
(e)(1)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
(2)In addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination shall do all of the following:
(A)Make recommendations to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Latino-related incidents or educational disparities.
(B)Work with the leadership of the Office of Civil Rights to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Latino pupils and local educational agency personnel.
(C)Annually report statistics on anti-Latino discrimination against pupils and local educational agency personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Latino discrimination at the root of the problem.
(D)Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Latino discrimination within society and in educational settings.
(E)Engage with Latino education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Latino discrimination.
SEC. 5.Section 33803.4 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.4.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide gender-related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent gender discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to gender discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to gender discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful gender discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of gender discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 6.Section 33803.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:33803.5.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the LGBTQ LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide LGBTQ+ related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(4)Provide available information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate training, including, but not limited to, Providing Relevant, Inclusive Support that Matters (PRISM) training, for teachers, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to LGBTQ+ discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community, organizations that support LGBTQ+ youth, LGBTQ+ parent groups, and organizations that support transgender, gender nonbinary, and intersex youth, to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful LGBTQ+ discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of LGBTQ+ discrimination in educational settings.
SEC. 7.Section 33803.6 is added to the Education Code, to read:33803.6.(a)The Office of Civil Rights shall employ the Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
(b)The Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the department, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, shall do all of the following:
(1)Develop, consult on, and provide disability-related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent disability discrimination.
(2)Provide technical assistance to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
(A)Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
(B)Create a list of resources and identify available training that local educational agencies may share with teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the department made available pursuant to Section 49055.
(3)Engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to disability discrimination.
(4)Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and local educational agency personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
(A)Nondiscrimination laws.
(B)Trauma-informed restorative practices.
(C)Bullying prevention and response.
(D)Navigating politically charged environments.
(E)Implementing inclusive curriculum.
(5)Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, the executive director of the state board, and the Superintendent complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to Section 33315 relating to disability-related discrimination in all local educational agencies serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(6)Engage with relevant community stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that support the disability community, organizations that support pupils and youth with disabilities, organizations that support parents and guardians of pupils with disabilities and their families, to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful disability discrimination.
(7)Make recommendations to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on legislation necessary for the prevention of disability discrimination in educational settings.
SECTION 1.Section 35160 of the Education Code is amended to read:35160.On and after January 1, 1976, the governing board of a school district may initiate and carry on any program, activity, or may otherwise act in a manner that is not in conflict with or inconsistent with, or preempted by, any law and that is not in conflict with the purposes for which school districts are established.On and after January 1, 1976, the governing board of any a school district may initiate and carry on any program, activity, or may otherwise act in any a manner which that is not in conflict with or inconsistent with, or preempted by, any law and which that is not in conflict with the purposes for which school districts are established.
|
Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 670, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep 27, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Aug 31, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 6 p.m. |
| Aug 26, 2026 | Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 30. Noes 9.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. |
| Aug 26, 2026 | Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 30. Noes 9. Page 5854.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. |
| Aug 25, 2026 | In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending. |
| Aug 25, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 58. Noes 10. Page 6530.) Ordered to the Senate. |
| Aug 25, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. |
| Aug 19, 2026 | Ordered to third reading. |
| Aug 19, 2026 | Read third time and amended. |
| Aug 13, 2026 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Aug 13, 2026 | From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (August 13). |
| Aug 13, 2026 | Assembly Rule 63 suspended. |
| Aug 5, 2026 | August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file. |
| Jun 23, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 3.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jun 18, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on JUD. |
| Jun 18, 2026 | From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD. |
| Jun 9, 2026 | From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ED. |
| May 26, 2026 | Referred to Coms. on ED. and JUD. |
| May 20, 2026 | In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. |
| May 19, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 30. Noes 7.) Ordered to the Assembly. |
| May 19, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 30. Noes 7. Page 4345.) Ordered to the Assembly. |
| May 14, 2026 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| May 14, 2026 | From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (May 14). |
| May 14, 2026 | From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2. Page 4260.) (May 14). |
| May 8, 2026 | Set for hearing May 14. |
| May 4, 2026 | May 4 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr 24, 2026 | Set for hearing May 4. |
| Apr 22, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 1. Page 3977.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Apr 22, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Apr 16, 2026 | Set for hearing April 21. |
| Apr 15, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on JUD. |
| Apr 15, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 3899.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on JUD. |
| Apr 9, 2026 | Set for hearing April 15. |
| Apr 8, 2026 | Re-referred to Coms. on ED. and JUD. |
| Apr 8, 2026 | From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on ED. |
| Mar 25, 2026 | From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS. |
| Feb 18, 2026 | Referred to Com. on RLS. |
| Feb 10, 2026 | From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 12. |
| Feb 9, 2026 | Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print. |
|
Date
|
Description
|
Location
|
Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 26, 2026 | Unfinished Business SB998 Gonzalez et al. Concurrence | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Aug 25, 2026 | SB 998 Gonzalez Senate Third Reading By Fong | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| Aug 13, 2026 | Do pass. | Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Jun 23, 2026 | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Assembly Standing Committee on Judiciary |
Passed |
|
| Jun 17, 2026 | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] | Assembly Standing Committee on Education |
Passed |
|
| May 19, 2026 | Senate 3rd Reading SB998 Gonzalez et al. | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| May 14, 2026 | Do pass | Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| May 4, 2026 | Placed on suspense file | Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Apr 21, 2026 | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary |
Passed |
|
| Apr 15, 2026 | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] | Senate Standing Committee on Education |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| 1021 Jewish Workers for Justice | ** Against | |
| 1021 Members for Palestine | ** Against | |
| Agudath Israel Of California | ** Support | |
| AJC - Los Angeles | ** Support | |
| AJC - San Diego | ** Support | |
| AJC Northern California | ** Support | |
| American Jewish Committee - Los Angeles | ** Support | |
| American Jewish Committee - Northern California | ** Support | |
| American Jewish Committee - San Diego | ** Support | |
| Association Of California School Administrators | ** Support | |
| Beverly Hills Synagogue | ** Support | |
| Beyt Tikkun: a Synagogue without Walls | ** Against | |
| BUSD Jewish Parents for Collective Liberation | ** Against | |
| California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus | ** Support | |
| California Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus | ** Support | |
| California State PTA | ** Support | |
| Democrats for Israel Los Angeles | ** Support | |
| Disability Rights California | ** Support | |
| Disability Rights California | ** Support | |
| Equality California | ** Support | |
| Hadassah, the Women's Zionist of America, INC. | ** Support | |
| Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc. | ** Support | |
| Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist of America | ** Support | |
| Hillel of San Diego | ** Support | |
| Holocaust Museum LA | ** Support | |
| Holocaust Museum LAJCC - Federation of San Luis Obispo | ** Support | |
| JCC Federation of San Luis Obispo | ** Support | |
| JCC/Federation of San Luis Obispo | ** Support | |
| JCRC Bay Area | ** Support | |
| JCRC Long Beach | ** Support | |
| JCRC Santa Barbara County | ** Support | |
| JCRC, Jewish Long Beach | ** Support | |
| Jewish California | ** Support | |
| Jewish Center for Justice | ** Support | |
| Jewish Community Relations Council - Bay Area | ** Support | |
| Jewish Community Relations Council - Jewish Long Beach | ** Support | |
| Jewish Community Relations Council - Santa Barbara County | ** Support | |
| Jewish Council for Public Affairs | ** Support | |
| Jewish Democratic Club of Marin | ** Support | |
| Jewish Family Service LA | ** Support | |
| Jewish Family Service of San Diego | ** Support | |
| Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley | ** Support | |
| Jewish Federation Bay Area | ** Support | |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara | ** Support | |
| Jewish Federation of Orange County | ** Support | |
| Jewish Federation of the Desert | ** Support | |
| Jewish Federation of The Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys | ** Support | |
| Jewish Federation Of The Sacramento Region | ** Support | |
| Jewish Free Loan Association | ** Support | |
| Jewish Parents for Collective Liberation | ** Against | |
| Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation | ** Support | |
| Jewish Voice for Peace Bay Area | ** Against | |
| Jewish Voice for Peace Santa Barbara | ** Against | |
| Jewish Voice for Peace, Los Angeles | ** Against | |
| JFCS Long Beach and Orange County | ** Support | |
| National Campus Jewish Alliance California Chapter | ** Against | |
| National Council of Jewish Women -San Francisco | ** Support | |
| National Council of Jewish Women -sf | ** Support | |
| National Council of Jewish Women – San Francisco | ** Support | |
| Northern California Jewish Labor Committee | ** Support | |
| Public Counsel | ** Support | |
| Valley Beth Shalom | ** Support | |
| Workers Circle/Arbeter Ring of Northern California | ** Against | |
| Youth Justice Education Clinic at Loyola Law School’s Center for Juvenile Law and Policy | ** Support | |
| Youth Justice Education Clinic, Center for Juvenile Law and Policy, Loyola Law School | ** Support |
SENATE THIRD READING
STR Bill Id:SB 998
Author:(Gonzalez, et al.)
As Amended Ver:August 19, 2026
Majority vote
SUMMARY
Establishes the duties and responsibilities for various discrimination prevention coordinators within the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) at the Government Operations Agency (GovOps), establishes a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and requires the OCR to employ various deputy discrimination prevention coordinators.
Major Provisions
- Requires the OCR to provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics.
- States that the discrimination prevention coordinators may collaborate with one another, within the purview of their roles and responsibilities, on issues of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as specified.
- Requires that the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator established under the OCR, in consultation with the California Department of Education (CDE) and under the supervision of GovOps, to conduct specified activities, including tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the State Board of Education (SBE), and the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints relating to religious discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade, as specified. States the intent of the Legislature that this report include disaggregated data for the top religious groups targeted for hate crimes, consistent with the most recent report on hate crimes by the Attorney General, including, but not limited to, anti-Muslim, anti-Jewish, anti-Hindu, anti-Catholic, and anti-Sikh discrimination.
- Requires the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of the GovOps, to conduct specified activities, including tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI, complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints relating to racial and ethnic discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade.
- Requires the OCR to employ Deputy Coordinators on Anti-Black Racism, Anti-Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (Anti-AANHPI) Discrimination, Anti-Latino Discrimination, and anti-Native American Discrimination who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and specifies their responsibilities.
- Requires the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of the GovOps, to conduct specified activities, including tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made relating to gender discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade.
- Requires the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of the GovOps, to conduct specified activities, including tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made relating to LGBTQ+ discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade.
- Requires the OCR to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, with specified responsibilities, including tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made relating to disability-related discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade.
- Repeals a statement of intent to enact the duties and responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators.
COMMENTS
Bill establishes duties of discrimination prevention coordinator positions created last year. Last year, AB 715 (Zbur), Chapter 428, Statutes of 2025, established the OCR under GovOps and an Antisemitism Coordinator position within that office.
SB 48 (Gonzalez), Chapter 429, Statutes of 2025, established disability prevention coordinators for race/ethnicity, religion, LGBTQ+, and gender within the OCR. The duties of those coordinators were not specified, and the statute stated the intent of the Legislature to specify those duties in subsequent legislation. This bill specifies those duties, adds a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator and an Anti-Native American Discrimination Deputy Coordinator, and establishes other deputies under the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Coordinator. The duties and responsibilities of the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator are not amended by this bill.
According to the Author
"Last year, working with my Diversity caucus colleagues- the California Black Legislative Caucus, AAPI Legislative Caucus, and LGBTQ Legislative Caucus- the Legislature passed SB 48 (Gonzalez/Weber/Fong/Ward), which created four discrimination prevention coordinators under the newly established Office of Civil Rights. My colleagues and I committed to working on subsequent legislation to clarify the role of each coordinator and create a Disability Discrimination Prevention coordinator based on stakeholder feedback.
SB 998 builds on that commitment by establishing clear guidelines and expectations for the service coordinators to provide, at the request of the local educational agency, technical assistance so that all student populations receive equal protection, proactive support services, and timely responses to discriminatory incidents. With the dismantling of the Federal Department of Education, the state must step up to foster a positive campus climate, deliver targeted support services for our student population, and address discrimination against any student in California schools."
Arguments in Support
Disability Rights California writes, "Students with disabilities and other protected groups continue to experience discrimination, exclusionary discipline, retaliation, and inequitable access to educational opportunities across California schools. As noted in DRC's support letter, approximately 35% of equity complaints processed by the California Department of Education in 2025 included allegations of disability discrimination or retaliation. Many complaints also involve overlapping forms of discrimination, requiring more coordinated and intersectional responses.
SB 998 emphasizes prevention-oriented strategies, including educator training, technical assistance, restorative practices, conflict resolution, and early intervention support for local educational agencies. By proactively addressing discrimination and strengthening school climate, the bill can help reduce costly investigations, litigation exposure, complaint escalation, student disengagement, and exclusionary disciplinary practices that contribute to long-term educational and social inequities.
Importantly, the bill largely builds upon and expands the existing Office of Civil Rights framework established under prior legislation, rather than creating an entirely new standalone structure. The addition of a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator and intersectional training resources helps ensure that schools receive more specialized and coordinated support in addressing civil rights obligations affecting students with disabilities and other protected groups."
Arguments in Opposition
BUSD Jewish Parents for Collective Liberation writes, "Given the current political climate and the way that accusations of discrimination (particularly antisemitism) are currently being used for political control of educational institutions in K-12 and higher education, we strongly oppose any legislation that would make any civil rights coordinator a political appointment.
These appointments should be qualified civil servants based on competence, qualifications, and competitive examinations.
As Jewish parents, we will continue to oppose any legislation that might allow politicians to use accusations of antisemitism for political gains rather than to support our students."
FISCAL COMMENTS
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:
- One-time General Fund costs of $2.46 million and $1.96 million annually ongoing for GovOps to provide for the new Discrimination Prevention Coordinator positions, two additional administrative support staff positions, development of educational and training materials, and acquisition of new office space to support increased staffing.
AB 109 (Gabriel), Chapter 19, Statutes of 2026, includes provisional language authorizing the Director of Finance to appropriate up to $3.581 million to GovOps to support implementation of this bill.
- Minor and absorbable costs to CDE though CDE contends that its specific role and expectations as a consulting entity to the OCR is unclear
VOTES
SENATE FLOOR: 30-7-3
YES: Allen, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Cortese, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Hurtado, Laird, Limón, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Padilla, Pérez, Reyes, Richardson, Rubio, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Umberg, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener
NO: Alvarado-Gil, Choi, Dahle, Grove, Jones, Seyarto, Strickland
ABS, ABST OR NV: Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Valladares
ASM EDUCATION: 6-0-3
YES: Patel, Ahrens, Bonta, Garcia, Lowenthal, Pellerin
ABS, ABST OR NV: Hoover, Castillo, Zbur
ASM JUDICIARY: 9-3-0
YES: Kalra, Bauer-Kahan, Bryan, Connolly, Harabedian, Pacheco, Papan, Stefani, Zbur
NO: Macedo, Dixon, Sanchez
ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 11-1-3
YES: Wicks, Arambula, Calderon, Caloza, Fong, Mark González, Krell, Pacheco, Pellerin, Sharp-Collins, Solache
NO: Tangipa
ABS, ABST OR NV: Hoover, Dixon, Ta
UPDATED
VERSION: August 19, 2026
CONSULTANT: Tanya Lieberman / ED. / (916) 319-2087 FN: 0003847
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-4171 | SB 998 |
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SB 998
Author: Gonzalez (D), Fong (D), Ramos (D), Ward (D) and Weber Pierson (D)
Amended: 8/19/26
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 5-1, 4/15/26
AYES: Pérez, Cabaldon, Cortese, Gonzalez, Reyes
NOES: Choi
NO VOTE RECORDED: Ochoa Bogh
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: 11-1, 4/21/26
AYES: Umberg, Allen, Ashby, Caballero, Durazo, Laird, Reyes, Stern, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener
NOES: Niello
NO VOTE RECORDED: Valladares
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 5-2, 5/14/26
AYES: Cervantes, Cabaldon, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab
NOES: Seyarto, Dahle
SENATE FLOOR: 30-7, 5/19/26
AYES: Allen, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Cortese, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Hurtado, Laird, Limón, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Padilla, Pérez, Reyes, Richardson, Rubio, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Umberg, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener
NOES: Alvarado-Gil, Choi, Dahle, Grove, Jones, Seyarto, Strickland
NO VOTE RECORDED: Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Valladares
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 58-10, 8/25/26 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT: Educational equity: discrimination prevention coordinators
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST:
This bill establishes roles and responsibilities for the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator under the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and additionally requires the OCR to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. This bill also requires the OCR to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, Anti-Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (Anti-AANHPI) Discrimination, Anti-Latino Discrimination, and Anti-Native American Discrimination, respectively, and would require each deputy coordinator to report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
Assembly Amendments
1) recast a provision that would have prevented the roles and responsibilities of the respective coordinators from being limited to their specific title, to instead explicitly authorize the coordinators to collaborate with one another on issues of discrimination related to intersectional protected identities; 2) require the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to track and report on complaints related to religious discrimination, disaggregated by religious groups, as specified; 3) update references to Anti-Asian and Pacific Islander (anti-AAPI) discrimination to be inclusive of Native Hawaiian discrimination (henceforth anti-AANHPI); 4) require the OCR to appoint a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Native American Discrimination who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator; and 5) clarify that the provisions of this bill related to the Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator do not alter the responsibilities of the California Department of Education (CDE) under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or its implementing regulations.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
- States that it is the policy of the State of California to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, equal rights, and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state. States that the purpose is to prohibit acts that are contrary to that policy and to provide remedies that will eliminate these discriminatory acts, including discrimination not just because of one protected trait, but also because of the combination of two or more protected bases. (Education Code (EC) § 200)
- States that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, in any program or activity conducted by an educational institution that receives, or benefits from, state financial assistance, or enrolls pupils who receive state student financial aid. (EC § 220)
- Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to establish and implement a system of complaint processing, known as the Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP), for specified educational programs. (EC § 33315)
- Requires a local educational agency (LEA), if it finds merit in a complaint, or the SPI finds merit in an appeal, to take corrective actions consistent with the requirements of existing law that will provide a remedy to the affected pupil, or to all affected pupils, parents, and guardians. (EC § 33315)
- Establishes the OCR under the administration of the Government Operations Agency (GovOps) to work directly with LEAs to prevent and address discrimination and bias, as specified. Requires the OCR to engage with and seek advice from coordinators within the OCR on actions implemented by the OCR. Establishes the position of the Director of the OCR and subjects it to appointment from the Governor and confirmation by the Senate. (EC § 33801)
- Requires the OCR, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of GovOps, to carry out several tasks including providing education and educational resources to identify and prevent antisemitism and other forms of discrimination and bias, and sharing relevant laws and regulations with educational state agencies, LEAs, and community stakeholders; annually submitting a report to GovOps, the SPI, the executive director of the State Board of Education (SBE), and the Legislature on the state of discrimination and bias in all LEAs, as specified; recommending strategies to combat discrimination or bias to CDE and LEAs, including proactive strategies using a restorative justice approach with a focus on repairing harm, fostering empathy, and healing relationships; reviewing reports from the CDE that include summaries of all complaints of discrimination filed pursuant to the UCP and advise on subsequent actions; providing assistance to the office of the Attorney General and the CDE on proper protocols to respond to discrimination complaints filed pursuant to the UCP. (EC § 33802)
- Establishes the position of the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, subject to appointment by the Governor and confirmation by the Senate. Requires the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of GovOps to carry out several tasks, including developing, consulting on, and providing antisemitism prevention education specified school personnel; making recommendations in coordination with the executive director of the SBE, to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of antisemitism in educational settings; engaging and advising on actions taken by the OCR on issues related to antisemitism and the Jewish community; tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI, complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions on complaints made pursuant to the UCP, as specified; and engaging with relevant community stakeholders in the execution of their duties. (EC § 33803.1)
- Establishes the position of the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and the LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator under the OCR, and subjects each position to appointment by the Governor and confirmation by the Senate. (EC § 33803.2-33803.5.)
This bill:
- Requires the OCR to provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as specified.
- States that the roles and responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators established pursuant to this bill shall not be limited to their specific title or discrimination subject to allow for flexibility in their roles.
- Repeals placeholder language setting forth the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation to establish the coordinator roles proposed by this bill.
- Renames the LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator as the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
- Establishes the position of the Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, subject to appointment by the Governor and confirmation by the Senate.
- Requires the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and the Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE and under the supervision of GovOps, to do the following pertaining to their respective communities:
- Develop, consult on, and provide discrimination related education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other LEA personnel to identify and proactively prevent respective discrimination.
- Provide technical assistance to LEAs to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners, as specified.
- Engage with LEAs, upon the request of the SPI, district superintendent, county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of an LEA, to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to discrimination.
- Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel.
- Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, the SPI, complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to the UCP relating to discrimination in all local LEAs serving pupils in transitional kindergarten (TK), kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
- Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful discrimination.
- Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of discrimination in educational settings.
- With respect to the report outlined in #6(e) above, requires the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to include disaggregated data by religious group, as specified.
- Requires the OCR to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-AANHPI Discrimination, a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, and a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Native American Discrimination, each of which shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
- Requires the respective Deputy Coordinators on Anti-Black Racism, Anti-AANHPI Discrimination, Anti-Latino Discrimination, and Anti-Native American Discrimination to do the following pertaining to their respective communities, in addition to the responsibilities assigned to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator:
- Make recommendations to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Black, Anti-AANHPI, anti-Latino-related, and anti-Native American incidents or educational disparities.
- Work with the leadership of the OCR to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Black, AANHPI, Latino, and Native American pupils and LEA personnel.
- Annually report statistics on anti-Latino discrimination against pupils and LEA personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Black, Anti-AANHPI, anti-Latino, and anti-Native American discrimination at the root of the problem.
- Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Black, anti-AANHPI, anti-Latino, and anti-Native American discrimination within society and in educational settings.
- Engage with Black, AANHPI, Latino, and Native American education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address the respective forms of discrimination.
- Requires the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to track and report complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions made pursuant to the UCP relating to anti-immigrant discrimination.
- Clarify that the provisions of this bill related to the Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator do not alter the responsibilities of the CDE under the federal IDEA or its implementing regulations.
Comment
Need for the bill. According to the author, “Last year, the Legislature passed SB 48 (Gonzalez/Weber/Fong/Ward), which created four discrimination prevention coordinators under the newly established Office of Civil Rights. My colleagues and I committed to working on subsequent legislation to clarify the role of each coordinator and create a Disability Discrimination Prevention coordinator based on stakeholder feedback. SB 998 builds on that commitment by establishing clear guidelines and expectations for the service coordinators to provide upon the request of the local educational agency to ensure that all student populations receive equal protection, proactive support services, and timely responses to discriminatory incidents. With the dismantling of the Federal Department of Education, the state must step up to foster a positive campus climate, deliver targeted support services for our student population, and address discrimination against any student in California schools.”
Complaint process. This bill requires the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and the Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to track and annually report on complaints and resolutions, or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to the UCP relating to the respective forms of discrimination in all local LEAs serving pupils TK, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12.
As prescribed by statute and regulations, each LEA has the primary responsibility to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations. Each LEA is required to investigate complaints alleging failure to comply with applicable state and federal laws and regulations and/or alleging discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, and seek to resolve those complaints.
A complaint through the UCP is a written and signed statement alleging a violation of federal or state laws or regulations, which may include an allegation of unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:
- One-time General Fund costs of $2.46 million and $1.96 million annually ongoing for GovOps to provide for the new Discrimination Prevention Coordinator positions, two additional administrative support staff positions, development of educational and training materials, and acquisition of new office space to support increased staffing.
- Minor and absorbable costs to CDE though CDE contends that its specific role and expectations as a consulting entity to the OCR is unclear.
SUPPORT: (Verified 8/25/26)
Agudath Israel of California
AJC - Los Angeles
AJC - San Diego
AJC Northern California
Beverly Hills Synagogue
California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus
Democrats for Israel Los Angeles
Disability Rights California
Equality California
Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist of America
Hillel of San Diego
Holocaust Museum LA
JCC/Federation of San Luis Obispo
JCRC Bay Area
JCRC Santa Barbara County
JCRC, Jewish Long Beach
Jewish California
Jewish Center for Justice
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Democratic Club of Marin
Jewish Family Service LA
Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley
Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara
Jewish Federation of Orange County
Jewish Federation of the Desert
Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys
Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region
Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation
JFCS Long Beach and Orange County
National Council of Jewish Women -San Francisco
Northern California Jewish Labor Committee
Valley Beth Shalom
Youth Justice Education Clinic, Center for Juvenile Law and Policy, Loyola Law School
OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/25/26)
Jewish Parents for Collective Liberation
Jewish Voice for Peace Bay Area
Jewish Voice for Peace Santa Barbara
Jewish Voice for Peace, Los Angeles
National Campus Jewish Alliance California Chapter
Several Individuals
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 58-10, 8/25/26
AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alvarez, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Connolly, Elhawary, Fong, Gabriel, Garcia, Gipson, Mark González, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lee, Lowenthal, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Soria, Stefani, Valencia, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas
NOES: DeMaio, Dixon, Ellis, Hadwick, Johnson, Lackey, Macedo, Patterson, Sanchez, Tangipa
NO VOTE RECORDED: Alanis, Castillo, Chen, Davies, Flora, Jeff Gonzalez, Hoover, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Solache, Ta
Prepared by: Therresa Austin / ED. / (916) 651-4105
8/25/26 19:00:55
**** END ****
SENATE THIRD READING
STR Bill Id:SB 998
Author:(Gonzalez, et al.)
As Amended Ver:August 19, 2026
Majority vote
SUMMARY
Establishes the duties and responsibilities for various discrimination prevention coordinators within the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) at the Government Operations Agency (GovOps), establishes a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and requires the OCR to employ various deputy discrimination prevention coordinators.
Major Provisions
- Requires the OCR to provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics.
- States that the discrimination prevention coordinators may collaborate with one another, within the purview of their roles and responsibilities, on issues of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as specified.
- Requires that the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator established under the OCR, in consultation with the California Department of Education (CDE) and under the supervision of GovOps, to conduct specified activities, including tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the State Board of Education (SBE), and the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints relating to religious discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade, as specified. States the intent of the Legislature that this report include disaggregated data for the top religious groups targeted for hate crimes, consistent with the most recent report on hate crimes by the Attorney General, including, but not limited to, anti-Muslim, anti-Jewish, anti-Hindu, anti-Catholic, and anti-Sikh discrimination.
- Requires the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of the GovOps, to conduct specified activities, including tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI, complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints relating to racial and ethnic discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade.
- Requires the OCR to employ Deputy Coordinators on Anti-Black Racism, Anti-Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (Anti-AANHPI) Discrimination, Anti-Latino Discrimination, and anti-Native American Discrimination who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and specifies their responsibilities.
- Requires the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of the GovOps, to conduct specified activities, including tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made relating to gender discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade.
- Requires the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of the GovOps, to conduct specified activities, including tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made relating to LGBTQ+ discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade.
- Requires the OCR to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, with specified responsibilities, including tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made relating to disability-related discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade.
- Repeals a statement of intent to enact the duties and responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators.
COMMENTS
Bill establishes duties of discrimination prevention coordinator positions created last year. Last year, AB 715 (Zbur), Chapter 428, Statutes of 2025, established the OCR under GovOps and an Antisemitism Coordinator position within that office.
SB 48 (Gonzalez), Chapter 429, Statutes of 2025, established disability prevention coordinators for race/ethnicity, religion, LGBTQ+, and gender within the OCR. The duties of those coordinators were not specified, and the statute stated the intent of the Legislature to specify those duties in subsequent legislation. This bill specifies those duties, adds a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator and an Anti-Native American Discrimination Deputy Coordinator, and establishes other deputies under the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Coordinator. The duties and responsibilities of the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator are not amended by this bill.
According to the Author
"Last year, working with my Diversity caucus colleagues- the California Black Legislative Caucus, AAPI Legislative Caucus, and LGBTQ Legislative Caucus- the Legislature passed SB 48 (Gonzalez/Weber/Fong/Ward), which created four discrimination prevention coordinators under the newly established Office of Civil Rights. My colleagues and I committed to working on subsequent legislation to clarify the role of each coordinator and create a Disability Discrimination Prevention coordinator based on stakeholder feedback.
SB 998 builds on that commitment by establishing clear guidelines and expectations for the service coordinators to provide, at the request of the local educational agency, technical assistance so that all student populations receive equal protection, proactive support services, and timely responses to discriminatory incidents. With the dismantling of the Federal Department of Education, the state must step up to foster a positive campus climate, deliver targeted support services for our student population, and address discrimination against any student in California schools."
Arguments in Support
Disability Rights California writes, "Students with disabilities and other protected groups continue to experience discrimination, exclusionary discipline, retaliation, and inequitable access to educational opportunities across California schools. As noted in DRC's support letter, approximately 35% of equity complaints processed by the California Department of Education in 2025 included allegations of disability discrimination or retaliation. Many complaints also involve overlapping forms of discrimination, requiring more coordinated and intersectional responses.
SB 998 emphasizes prevention-oriented strategies, including educator training, technical assistance, restorative practices, conflict resolution, and early intervention support for local educational agencies. By proactively addressing discrimination and strengthening school climate, the bill can help reduce costly investigations, litigation exposure, complaint escalation, student disengagement, and exclusionary disciplinary practices that contribute to long-term educational and social inequities.
Importantly, the bill largely builds upon and expands the existing Office of Civil Rights framework established under prior legislation, rather than creating an entirely new standalone structure. The addition of a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator and intersectional training resources helps ensure that schools receive more specialized and coordinated support in addressing civil rights obligations affecting students with disabilities and other protected groups."
Arguments in Opposition
BUSD Jewish Parents for Collective Liberation writes, "Given the current political climate and the way that accusations of discrimination (particularly antisemitism) are currently being used for political control of educational institutions in K-12 and higher education, we strongly oppose any legislation that would make any civil rights coordinator a political appointment.
These appointments should be qualified civil servants based on competence, qualifications, and competitive examinations.
As Jewish parents, we will continue to oppose any legislation that might allow politicians to use accusations of antisemitism for political gains rather than to support our students."
FISCAL COMMENTS
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:
- One-time General Fund costs of $2.46 million and $1.96 million annually ongoing for GovOps to provide for the new Discrimination Prevention Coordinator positions, two additional administrative support staff positions, development of educational and training materials, and acquisition of new office space to support increased staffing.
AB 109 (Gabriel), Chapter 19, Statutes of 2026, includes provisional language authorizing the Director of Finance to appropriate up to $3.581 million to GovOps to support implementation of this bill.
- Minor and absorbable costs to CDE though CDE contends that its specific role and expectations as a consulting entity to the OCR is unclear
VOTES
SENATE FLOOR: 38-0-2
YES: Allen, Alvarado-Gil, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Choi, Cortese, Dahle, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Grove, Jones, Laird, Limón, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Padilla, Pérez, Richardson, Rubio, Seyarto, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Strickland, Umberg, Valladares, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener
ABS, ABST OR NV: Hurtado, Reyes
ASM HEALTH: 16-0-0
YES: Bonta, Chen, Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Caloza, Carrillo, Flora, Mark González, Krell, Patel, Patterson, Celeste Rodriguez, Sanchez, Schiavo, Sharp-Collins, Stefani
ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 15-0-0
YES: Wicks, Arambula, Calderon, Caloza, Dixon, Elhawary, Fong, Mark González, Hart, Pacheco, Pellerin, Jeff Gonzalez, Solache, Ta, Tangipa
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 74-0-5
YES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Arambula, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Boerner, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Carrillo, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Irwin, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Celeste Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Sanchez, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Wallis, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas
ABS, ABST OR NV: Alvarez, Berman, Elhawary, Gallagher, Valencia
UPDATED
VERSION: August 19, 2026
CONSULTANT: Tanya Lieberman / ED. / (916) 319-2087 FN: 0003847
SENATE THIRD READING
STR Bill Id:SB 998
Author:(Gonzalez and Weber Pierson)
As Amended Ver:June 18, 2026
Majority vote
SUMMARY
Establishes the duties and responsibilities for various discrimination prevention coordinators within the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) at the Government Operations Agency (GovOps), establishes a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and requires the OCR to employ various deputy discrimination prevention coordinators.
Major Provisions
- Requires the OCR to provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics.
- States that the roles and responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators shall not be limited to their specific title or discrimination subject, to allow for flexibility in their roles.
- Requires that the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator established under the OCR, in consultation with the California Department of Education (CDE) and under the supervision of GovOps, to conduct specified activities, including tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the State Board of Education (SBE), and the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints relating to religious discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade, as specified. States the intent of the Legislature that this report include disaggregated data for the top religious groups targeted for hate crimes, consistent with the most recent report on hate crimes by the Attorney General, including, but not limited to, anti-Muslim, anti-Jewish, anti-Hindu, anti-Catholic, and anti-Sikh discrimination.
- Requires the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of the GovOps, to conduct specified activities, including tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI, complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints relating to racial and ethnic discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade.
- Requires the OCR to employ Deputy Coordinators on Anti-Black Racism, Anti-Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (Anti-AANHPI) Discrimination, Anti-Latino Discrimination, and anti-Native American Discrimination who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and specifies their responsibilities.
- Requires the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of the GovOps, to conduct specified activities, including tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made relating to gender discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade.
- Requires the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of the GovOps, to conduct specified activities, including tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made relating to LGBTQ+ discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade.
- Requires the OCR to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, with specified responsibilities, including tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made relating to disability-related discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade.
- Repeals a statement of intent to enact the duties and responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators.
COMMENTS
Bill establishes duties of discrimination prevention coordinator positions created last year. Last year, AB 715 (Zbur), Chapter 428, Statutes of 2025, established the OCR under GovOps and an Antisemitism Coordinator position within that office.
SB 48 (Gonzalez), Chapter 429, Statutes of 2025, established disability prevention coordinators for race/ethnicity, religion, LGBTQ+, and gender within the OCR. The duties of those coordinators were not specified, and the statute stated the intent of the Legislature to specify those duties in subsequent legislation. This bill specifies those duties, adds a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator and an Anti-Native American Discrimination Deputy Coordinator, and establishes other deputies under the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Coordinator. The duties and responsibilities of the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator are not amended by this bill.
According to the Author
"Last year, working with my Diversity caucus colleagues- the California Black Legislative Caucus, AAPI Legislative Caucus, and LGBTQ Legislative Caucus- the Legislature passed SB 48 (Gonzalez/Weber/Fong/Ward), which created four discrimination prevention coordinators under the newly established Office of Civil Rights. My colleagues and I committed to working on subsequent legislation to clarify the role of each coordinator and create a Disability Discrimination Prevention coordinator based on stakeholder feedback.
SB 998 builds on that commitment by establishing clear guidelines and expectations for the service coordinators to provide, at the request of the local educational agency, technical assistance so that all student populations receive equal protection, proactive support services, and timely responses to discriminatory incidents. With the dismantling of the Federal Department of Education, the state must step up to foster a positive campus climate, deliver targeted support services for our student population, and address discrimination against any student in California schools."
Arguments in Support
Jewish California writes, "Discrimination in California's schools violates our most sacred commitments to justice and human dignity. Students of every faith, race, gender identity, and sexual orientation deserve to learn in environments free from discrimination and hostility. SB 998 outlines the responsibilities of the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill also creates a new Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator and delineates its responsibilities.
Additionally, the bill creates new Deputy Coordinators on anti-black racism, anti-Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) racism, and anti-Latino racism that will work under the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
The coordinators will work with local educational agencies to develop policies, provide staff training, and support students who experience discrimination. This builds on AB 715 (Zbur, Addis) – a bill we sponsored last year – which created the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator and outlined its responsibilities, and SB 48 (Gonzalez), which established the other four coordinators but did not identify their specific roles. By clarifying these coordinators' explicit responsibilities, SB 998 ensures that California's schools have the infrastructure and support to proactively address discrimination.
SB 998 strengthens school climates by ensuring that every student – regardless of religion, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability status – experiences a welcoming, affirming educational environment."
Arguments in Opposition
BUSD Jewish Parents for Collective Liberation writes, "Given the current political climate and the way that accusations of discrimination (particularly antisemitism) are currently being used for political control of educational institutions in K-12 and higher education, we strongly oppose any legislation that would make any civil rights coordinator a political appointment.
These appointments should be qualified civil servants based on competence, qualifications, and competitive examinations.
As Jewish parents, we will continue to oppose any legislation that might allow politicians to use accusations of antisemitism for political gains rather than to support our students."
FISCAL COMMENTS
According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee:
- One-time General Fund costs of $2.46 million and $1.96 million annually ongoing for GovOps to provide for the new Discrimination Prevention Coordinator positions, two additional administrative support staff positions, development of educational and training materials, and acquisition of new office space to support increased staffing.
AB 109 (Gabriel), Chapter 19, Statutes of 2026, includes provisional language authorizing the Director of Finance to appropriate up to $3.581 million to GovOps to support implementation of this bill.
- Minor and absorbable costs to CDE though CDE contends that its specific role and expectations as a consulting entity to the OCR is unclear.
VOTES
SENATE FLOOR: 30-7-3
YES: Allen, Archuleta, Arreguín, Ashby, Becker, Blakespear, Cabaldon, Caballero, Cervantes, Cortese, Durazo, Gonzalez, Grayson, Hurtado, Laird, Limón, McGuire, McNerney, Menjivar, Padilla, Pérez, Reyes, Richardson, Rubio, Smallwood-Cuevas, Stern, Umberg, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener
NO: Alvarado-Gil, Choi, Dahle, Grove, Jones, Seyarto, Strickland
ABS, ABST OR NV: Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Valladares
ASM EDUCATION: 6-0-3
YES: Patel, Ahrens, Bonta, Garcia, Lowenthal, Pellerin
ABS, ABST OR NV: Hoover, Castillo, Zbur
ASM JUDICIARY: 9-3-0
YES: Kalra, Bauer-Kahan, Bryan, Connolly, Harabedian, Pacheco, Papan, Stefani, Zbur
NO: Macedo, Dixon, Sanchez
ASM APPROPRIATIONS: 11-1-3
YES: Wicks, Arambula, Calderon, Caloza, Fong, Mark González, Krell, Pacheco, Pellerin, Sharp-Collins, Solache
NO: Tangipa
ABS, ABST OR NV: Hoover, Dixon, Ta
UPDATED
VERSION: June 18, 2026
CONSULTANT: Tanya Lieberman / ED. / (916) 319-2087 FN: 0003494
Date of Hearing: August 5, 2026
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Buffy Wicks, Chair
SBPCA Bill Id:SB 998
Author:(Gonzalez) – As Amended Ver:June 18, 2026
Policy Committee: | Education | Vote: | 6 - 0 |
Judiciary | 9 - 3 | ||
|
|
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill defines the roles and responsibilities of each of the Discrimination Prevention Coordinators established by SB 48 (Gonzalez), Chapter 429, Statutes of 2025. Additionally, the bill adds (a) a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), within the Government Operations Agency (GovOps), and (b) adds the positions of deputy coordinators reporting to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator within OCR. The bill requires that each Discrimination Prevention Coordinator carry out their duties in consultation with the California Department of Education (CDE) and under the supervision of GovOps.
FISCAL EFFECT:
- One-time General Fund costs of $2.46 million and $1.96 million annually ongoing for GovOps to provide for the new Discrimination Prevention Coordinator positions, two additional administrative support staff positions, development of educational and training materials, and acquisition of new office space to support increased staffing.
AB 109 (Gabriel), Chapter 19, Statutes of 2026, includes provisional language authorizing the Director of Finance to appropriate up to $3.581 million to GovOps to support implementation of this bill.
- Minor and absorbable costs to CDE though CDE contends that its specific role and expectations as a consulting entity to the OCR is unclear.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose. According to the author:
Last year, working with my Diversity caucus colleagues- the California Black Legislative Caucus, AAPI Legislative Caucus, and LGBTQ Legislative Caucus- the Legislature passed SB 48 (Gonzalez/Weber/Fong/Ward), which created four discrimination prevention coordinators under the newly established Office of Civil Rights. My colleagues and I committed to working on subsequent legislation to clarify the role of each coordinator and create a Disability Discrimination Prevention coordinator based on stakeholder feedback. SB 998 builds on that commitment by establishing clear guidelines and expectations for the service coordinators to provide, at the request of the local educational agency, technical assistance so that all student populations receive equal protection, proactive support services, and timely responses to discriminatory incidents.
- Background. AB 715 (Zbur), Chapter 428, Statutes of 2025, established the OCR and an Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator within the OCR. AB 715 also required all instruction be factually accurate, aligned to state curriculum, and consistent with accepted standards of professional responsibility, rather than advocacy, personal opinion, bias, or partisanship, and expanded prohibitions on the use of discriminatory instructional materials that are subject to the Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) investigation process and potential fiscal penalties resulting from noncompliance.
Subsequently, SB 48 (Gonzalez) established additional Discrimination Prevention Coordinators, which are the Religious, Race and Ethnicity, Gender, and LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinators. This bill delineates each of the coordinator’s roles and responsibilities and also adds a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. In general, this bill requires each Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to develop and provide resources, training, and technical assistance to local educational agencies and the CDE, and, beginning September 1, 2027, track and report data to the Legislature regarding complaints of discrimination for each respective coordinator’s area.
Analysis Prepared by: Aaron Heredia / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Date of Hearing: June 23, 2026
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Ash Kalra, Chair
SBPCA Bill Id:SB 998
Author:(Gonzalez) – As Amended Ver:June 18, 2026
SENATE VOTE: 30-7
SUBJECT: Educational equity: discrimination prevention coordinators
SYNOPSIS
This bill follows from last year’s AB 715 (Chap. 428, Stats. 2025) and SB 48 (Chap. 429, Stats. 2025). AB 715 established the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) within the Government Operations Agency. It also created an Antisemitism Discrimination Coordinator, appointed by the Governor and tasked with providing guidance and education to public schools on how they might better identify, prevent, and respond to incidents of antisemitism. AB 715 was contingently joined with SB 48, which provided for four additional coordinators, also housed within the OCR, with the following titles: Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator; Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator; Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator; and LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. SB 48 did not define the roles of the coordinators but rather included intent language calling upon subsequent legislation to flesh out the specific duties of the coordinators.
The bill now before the Committee adds a “Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator” to the list of existing coordinators. The bill also, consistent with the intent language in SB 48, sets forth prescribed roles and responsibilities of the coordinators. In brief, the coordinators will provide education, training, and technical assistance to teachers, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel so that they can better identify, prevent, and respond to discrimination in the school setting. The coordinators will also, in consultation with other educational entities, report and track incidents of discrimination and make recommendations to the Legislature. The bill creates new “deputy coordinator” positions that will report to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. All coordinators will be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the California State Senate. Finally, the bill specifies that OCR shall develop educational and training materials that recognize the intersectional nature of discrimination.
The bill is supported by the California Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus, Disability Rights California, and several other educational, civil rights, and religious organizations. The California Faculty Association and SEIU California only support the bill if it is amended to make the coordinators merit-based civil service positions instead of political appointees. Other groups oppose the bill outright, though largely because they too believe that the appointment process will politicize inherently sensitive situations. This bill previously passed the Committee on Education 6-0.
SUMMARY: Defines the roles and responsibilities of discrimination prevention coordinators created by SB 48 (Chap. 429, Stats. 2025); adds a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to the existing list of coordinators; establishes “deputy coordinator” positions that report to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator; and requires OCR training materials to address issues of intersectionality. Specifically, this bill:
- Requires OCR to provide resources and training materials on how to properly assist schools in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as specified.
- Requires OCR to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
- Requires the OCR’s Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the Department of Education and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, to do all of the following:
- Develop, consult on, and provide discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency (LEA) personnel to identify and proactively prevent discrimination.
- Provide, upon request of the Superintendent of Schools, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board of body of an LEA, technical assistance, training, and resources, as specified.
- Engage with LEAs to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to discrimination.
- Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel. Specifies that these courses may include, but are not limited to, nondiscrimination laws, trauma-informed restorative practices, bullying prevention and response, navigating politically charged environments, and implementing inclusive curriculum.
- Track and report, beginning September 1, 2027, information on complaints, and the resolution or non-resolution of complaints, to the Legislature and other named entities.
- Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful discrimination.
- Make recommendations, as specified, to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of discrimination in educational settings.
- Requires OCR to employ deputy coordinators on Anti-Black Racism, Anti-Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Discrimination, Anti-Latino Discrimination, and Anti-Native American Discrimination. Specifies that the deputy coordinators shall report to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator and shall assist in the development of education and professional development, as specified.
- Makes technical and clarifying amendments to existing law.
EXISTING LAW:
- Provides that it is the policy of the State of California to afford all people equal rights and opportunities in the public educational institutions of the state, regardless of a person’s disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other specified characteristic. (Education Code Section 200. Subsequent citations refer to the Education Code unless otherwise noted.)
- Provides that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of a protected characteristic, as defined, in any program or activity conducted by an educational institution that receives, or benefits from, state financial assistance, or enrolls students who receive state financial assistance. (Section 220.)
- Prohibits the governing board of a school district, county board of education, or the government body of a charter school from adopting or approving any instructional or professional development material that could subject a student to unlawful discrimination. (Section 224.)
- Sets forth Uniform Complaint Procedures for filing a complaint, including a complaint alleging unlawful discrimination, against an educational institution. (Section 262.3; 2 CCR Section 4600 et seq.)
- Establishes the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), within the Government Operations Agency, for the purpose of working with LEAs to prevent and address discrimination and bias, and to provide education and educational resources to identify and prevent antisemitism and other forms of discrimination and bias. (Sections 33801 and 33802.)
- Requires OCR to employ an Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, who shall do all of the following:
- Develop, consult on, and provide antisemitism education to teachers, staff, governing board or body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent antisemitism.
- Make recommendations, as provided, to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of antisemitism in educational settings.
- Engage and advise on the actions taken by the office on issues relating to antisemitism and the Jewish community.
- Engage with local educational agencies on the handling of antisemitism.
- Track and report to the Legislature and other entities information on complaints and the resolution or non-resolution of complaints relating to antisemitism in all local educational agencies, as specified. (Section 33803.1.)
- Requires OCR to employ a Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Gender Discrimination Prevention and Coordinator, and an LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. Specifies that the coordinators shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. States legislative intent to enact future legislation to define the duties and responsibilities of the coordinators. (Sections 33803, 33803.2, 33803.3, 33803.4, and 33803.5.)
FISCAL EFFECT: As currently in print this bill is keyed fiscal.
COMMENTS: According to the author:
Last year, working with my Diversity caucus colleagues- the California Black Legislative Caucus, AAPI Legislative Caucus, and LGBTQ Legislative Caucus- the Legislature passed SB 48 (Gonzalez/Weber/Fong/Ward), which created four discrimination prevention coordinators under the newly established Office of Civil Rights. My colleagues and I committed to working on subsequent legislation to clarify the role of each coordinator and create a Disability Discrimination Prevention coordinator based on stakeholder feedback.
SB 998 builds on that commitment by establishing clear guidelines and expectations for the service coordinators to provide, at the request of the local educational agency, technical assistance so that all student populations receive equal protection, proactive support services, and timely responses to discriminatory incidents. With the dismantling of the Federal Department of Education, the state must step up to foster a positive campus climate, deliver targeted support services for our student population, and address discrimination against any student in California schools.
Last year’s AB 715 and SB 48. As noted by the author, this bill seeks to enact commitments made during the negotiations regarding last year’s AB 715 (Chap. 428, Stats. 2025) and SB 48 (Chap. 429, Stats. 2025).
AB 715 established the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) within the Government Operations Agency, the purpose of which was to prevent and address discrimination in school settings and to provide education and educational resources to identify and prevent discrimination. The bill also created an Antisemitism Discrimination Coordinator, appointed by the Governor and tasked with providing guidance and education to public schools on how they might better identify, prevent, and respond to incidents of antisemitism. While all stakeholders supported the goal of preventing antisemitism, some groups criticized AB 715 for singling out antisemitism for special protection when California’s diverse student body faces several forms of discrimination. AB 715 also generated concern because of its express adoption of the United States National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, a guidance issued by the Biden administration in 2023. That document adopted a definition of “antisemitism” developed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which was criticized by some academics and legal scholars for equating antisemitism with criticism of Israel. The ACLU, among others, expressed concerns that such a definition would chill speech, by both teachers and educational material writers, on contested matters of foreign affairs in the name of prohibiting material that subjected students to unlawful discrimination.
Although the free speech issues in AB 715 were never resolved – at least not to the satisfaction of the bill’s opponents – the Legislature responded to the criticism of singling out antisemitism by adopting SB 48, which required the OCR to also employ a Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Coordinator, a Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and an LGBTQ Discrimination Coordinator. As with the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, the new coordinators are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the California State Senate. However, while SB 48 established these new positions, it left for future legislation the task of fleshing out specific roles and responsibilities.
This bill represents that future legislation. For the most part, the duties of the new coordinators mirror those of the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator. That is, they will provide education to teachers, staff, and local administrators; develop professional development materials; and provide technical assistance to schools so that they may better identify, prevent, and respond to acts and forms of discrimination. The bill also requires the coordinators to track and report (to the Legislature, among others) on complaints of discrimination and how the school districts resolved (or failed to resolve) those complaints.
In addition to defining the roles and responsibilities of the existing OCR coordinators, this bill requires OCR to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, also appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The bill also requires OCR to employ several “deputy” coordinators that will report to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The deputies will address issues of discrimination based on particular forms of racial and ethnic discrimination against Black, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native American persons. (It is not entirely clear whether the deputy coordinators will also be appointed by the Governor or selected in some other manner).
Finally, this bill makes other technical and clarifying changes to existing law. For example, it requires OCR to consider that discrimination is often “intersectional” (involving multiple, interacting protected characteristics) and to develop educational and professional development material accordingly. The bill also changes the name of the LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
Should the coordinators be political appointees or civil service employees? As noted, the bill expressly provides that coordinators will be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. While most stakeholders who have weighed in on the bill applaud its intent, some groups have expressed concerns about political appointment. For example, the California Faculty Association (CFA) and Service Employees International Unition (SEIU) support this bill only if the coordinators are selected through the state’s existing merit-based civil service process rather than being appointed by the Governor. As the language of the bill appears to concede, such conversations are inherently challenging to navigate and politically charged. CFA and SEIU, therefore, believe the coordinators should be selected on the basis of merit and qualifications, and their ability to work with parents, students, teachers, and school administrators. Having the coordinators selected by politicians may invite criticism that the coordinators serve partisan interests rather than the agreed upon goal of rooting out all forms of discrimination in a politically disinterested manner. Of course, given the inherently political nature of the topic, it may well be that the coordinators, no matter how selected, will approach their task with the usual biases inherent in the human condition. One hopes that a coordinator will have the character and capacity to recognize their biases, but this character and capacity is no more assured by a civil service exam than by a thoughtful appointment and confirmation process. Nonetheless, the author may wish to consider whether gubernatorial appointment is the best means of selecting coordinators, if only to prevent the appearance of political bias.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: The California Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus writes in support:
While California law currently prohibits discrimination in educational settings on the basis of disability, gender, gender identity or expression, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, and other protected characteristics, enforcement through the Uniform Complaint Procedure (UCP) has at times been delayed or inconsistent. The COVID-19 pandemic and other systemic challenges have exacerbated these gaps, and recent federal rollbacks have heightened risks to vulnerable students, including LGBTQ+ and immigrant youth.
According to the California Department of Justice’s 2025 State of Pride Report, overall anti-LGBTQ+ bias hate incidents rose 13.9% in one year alone, while anti-transgender bias hate incidents rose by 12.3%. These are not just statistics – this is a call to action. Hate and harassment targeting youth is increasing, and it is showing up in our schools. FBI data shows that schools are now the third most common location for reported hate crimes nationwide, and the California Civil Rights Department found that 80% of youth aged 12-17 who experienced hate did so at school.
SB 998 ensures that schools have clear guidance and designated staff to prevent discrimination and respond promptly when incidents occur. By defining the responsibilities of the centralized role focused on LGBTQ+ student protections, the bill empowers educators, parents, and students with the tools they need to maintain safe, equitable, and supportive learning environments. This measure is a critical step toward reducing harassment, bullying, and discrimination in California’s schools and ensuring that all students can thrive without fear of bias or harm.
According to Disability Rights California (DRC), “SB 998 is an important and timely expansion upon last year’s SB 48 that not only clarifies the roles of the Discrimination Prevention Coordinators for Religion, Race and Ethnicity, Gender, and LGBTQ+ students under the newly established Office of Civil Rights but also adds a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to this new structure. Despite longstanding state and federal civil rights laws, students with disabilities continue to face discrimination in schools in the form of disproportionate use of exclusionary discipline, failure to provide reasonable accommodations and disability-related supports and services, and retaliation for self-advocacy.”
The Association of California School Administrators write in support:
Every student and educator deserves to learn and work in an environment free from discrimination. SB 998 builds on the foundation established by last year's SB 48 by not only defining the responsibilities of existing coordinators across religious, race and ethnicity, gender, and LGBTQ+ categories, but also establishing a new Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. Equally important, the bill takes a proactive rather than punitive approach, emphasizing education, training, and early intervention to prevent discrimination before it escalates.
By equipping teachers, administrators, staff, and governing board members with the tools to identify and address discrimination early, and by providing technical assistance and restorative justice resources to local educational agencies, this bill gives districts a meaningful framework for building inclusive school communities. The addition of deputy coordinators focused on Anti-Black Racism, Anti-AANHPI Discrimination, and Anti-Latino Discrimination, along with resources addressing the intersectionality of protected characteristics, further ensures that support is targeted, relevant, and responsive to the diverse communities California schools serve.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT, IF AMENDED: The California Faculty Association (CFA) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) strongly support this bill, but only if amended to require that coordinators be hired through the state’s existing merit-based civil service process rather than being appointed by the Governor. As CFA writes, the “appointment of these positions politicizes them and can have unintended consequences.” CFA is also urging “the removal of the appointment of the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator created through AB 715.”
SEIU similarly argues that coordinators should be hired through the civil service process, pointing out that the “coordinators interact with K-12 students, families, and staff involved in highly sensitive situations where emotional support, professionalism, and an understanding of child development are critical to the position’s success. Positions appointed by a Governor are subject to political influence, whereas the civil service system ensures candidates are hired based on merits and qualifications.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) of California supports this bill only if amended to include a dedicated “Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Muslim discrimination. This deputy would report directly to the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.” Like the other coordinators, the Anti-Muslim Prevention Coordinator would be tasked with collecting and providing statistics on anti-Muslim discrimination in educational settings. CAIR objects to making the coordinators – including the previously created Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator – political appointments.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION: Several other organizations, including several chapters of Jewish Voice for Peace, oppose the bill largely because coordinators will be political appointments. They point out that coordinators will interact “with students, teachers, and parents in highly sensitive situations.” As such, appointments should “be based on competence, qualifications, or competitive examinations. In it’s current form SB 998 could subject the state and education entities to lawsuits contesting actions of political appointees without appropriate qualifications and training.”
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Agudath Israel of California
AJC - Los Angeles
AJC - San Diego
AJC Northern California
Association of California School Administrators
Beverly Hills Synagogue
California Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus
California State PTA
Democrats for Israel Los Angeles
Disability Rights California
Equality California
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist of America, INC.
Hillel of San Diego
Holocaust Museum LA
JCC Federation of San Luis Obispo
JCRC Bay Area
JCRC Santa Barbara County
JCRC Long Beach
Jewish California
Jewish Center for Justice
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Democratic Club of Marin
Jewish Family Service LA
Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley
Jewish Federation Bay Area
Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara
Jewish Federation of Orange County
Jewish Federation of the Desert
Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys
Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region
Jewish Free Loan Association
Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation
JFCS Long Beach and Orange County
National Council of Jewish Women -sf
Northern California Jewish Labor Committee
Public Counsel
Valley Beth Shalom
Youth Justice Education Clinic, Center for Juvenile Law and Policy, Loyola Law School
Support if Amended
CAIR California
California Faculty Association
Jewish Voice for Peace Bay Area
SEIU California
Opposition
1021 Jewish Workers for Justice
1021 Members for Palestine
Beyt Tikkun: a Synagogue Without Walls
Jewish Parents for Collective Liberation
Jewish Voice for Peace Santa Barbara
Jewish Voice for Peace, Los Angeles
National Campus Jewish Alliance California Chapter
Workers Circle/Arbeter Ring of Northern California
Analysis Prepared by: Tom Clark / JUD. / (916) 319-2334
Date of Hearing: June 17, 2026
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Darshana R. Patel, Chair
SBPCA Bill Id:SB 998
Author:(Gonzalez) – As Amended Ver:June 9, 2026
[This bill was double referred to the Assembly Committee on Judiciary and may be heard by that Committee on issues under its jurisdiction.]
SENATE VOTE: 30-7
SUBJECT: Educational equity: discrimination prevention coordinators
SUMMARY: Establishes the duties and responsibilities for various discrimination prevention coordinators within the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) at the Government Operations Agency (GovOps), establishes a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and requires the OCR to employ various deputy discrimination prevention coordinators. Specifically, this bill:
- Requires the OCR to provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics.
- States that the roles and responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators shall not be limited to their specific title or discrimination subject to allow for flexibility in their roles.
- Requires that the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator established under the OCR, in consultation with the California Department of Education (CDE) and under the supervision of GovOps, to:
- Develop, consult on, and provide religious discrimination related education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency (LEA) personnel to identify and proactively prevent religious discrimination;
- Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of an LEA, to LEAs to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
- Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning; and
- Create a list of resources and identify available trainings that LEAs may share with teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the CDE has made available.
- Engage with LEAs to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to religious discrimination;
- Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
- Nondiscrimination laws;
- Trauma-informed restorative practices;
- Bullying prevention and response;
- Navigating politically charged environments; and
- Implementing inclusive curriculum.
- Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, the executive director of the State Board of Education (SBE), and the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints relating to religious discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade. Requires that the reports not include any personally identifiable information;
- Track and report complaints and resolutions, or lack of resolutions of complaints relating to anti-Muslim discrimination;
- Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful religious discrimination; and
- Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the SBE, to the Legislature, on legislation necessary for the prevention of religious discrimination in educational settings.
- Requires the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of the GovOps, to do all of the following:
- Develop, consult on, and provide culturally competent race and ethnicity discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other LEA personnel to identify and proactively prevent race and ethnicity discrimination;
- Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the SPI, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a LEA, to LEAs to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
- Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning; and
- Create a list of resources and identify available training that LEAs may share with teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the CDE has made available.
- Engage with LEAs to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage, with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to race and ethnicity discrimination;
- Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
- Nondiscrimination laws;
- Trauma-informed restorative practices;
- Bullying prevention and response;
- Navigating politically charged environments; and
- Implementing inclusive curriculum.
- Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI, complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints relating to racial and ethnic discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade;
- Track and report complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints relating to anti-immigrant discrimination;
- Requires that the reports not include any personally identifiable information;
- Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful racial and ethnic discrimination; and
- Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the SBE, to the Legislature, on legislation necessary for the prevention of racial and ethnic discrimination in educational settings.
- Requires the OCR to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
- Requires the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism to do all of the following:
- Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the SBE, to the Legislature, on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Blackness-related incidents or educational disparities;
- Work with the leadership of the OCR to develop a dedicated internet webpage with resources and information accessible to support Black pupils and LEA personnel;
- Annually report statistics on anti-Black racism against pupils and LEA personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Black racism at the root of the problem;
- Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Black racism within society and in educational settings; and
- Engage with Black education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Black racism.
- Requires the OCR to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (Anti-AANHPI) Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
- Requires the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-AANHPI Discrimination to do all of the following:
- Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the SBE, to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of Anti-AANHPI-related incidents or educational disparities;
- Work with the leadership of the OCR to develop a dedicated internet webpage with resources and information accessible to support Asian American and Pacific Islander pupils and LEA personnel;
- Annually report statistics on Anti-AANHPI discrimination against pupils and LEA personnel with suggestions on how to prevent Anti-AANHPI discrimination at the root of the problem;
- Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of Anti-AANHPI discrimination within society and in educational settings; and
- Engage with Asian American and Pacific Islander education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address Anti-AANHPI discrimination.
- Requires the OCR to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
- Requires the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination to do all of the following:
- Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the SBE, to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Latino-related incidents or educational disparities;
- Work with the leadership of the OCR to develop a dedicated internet webpage with resources and information accessible to support Latino pupils and LEA personnel.
- Annually report statistics on anti-Latino discrimination against pupils and LEA personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Latino discrimination at the root of the problem;
- Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Latino discrimination within society and in educational settings; and
- Engage with Latino education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Latino discrimination.
- Requires the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of the GovOps, to do all of the following:
- Develop, consult on, and provide gender-related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other LEA personnel to identify and proactively prevent gender discrimination;
- Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the SPI, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a LEA, to LEAs to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
- Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
- Create a list of resources and identify available training that LEAs may share with teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the CDE has made available.
- Engage with LEAs to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to gender discrimination;
- Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
- Nondiscrimination laws;
- Trauma-informed restorative practices;
- Bullying prevention and response;
- Navigating politically charged environments; and
- Implementing inclusive curriculum.
- Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant relating to gender discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade;
- Requires that the reports not include any personally identifiable information;
- Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful gender discrimination; and
- Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the SBE, to the Legislature, on legislation necessary for the prevention of gender discrimination in educational settings.
- Requires the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of the GovOps, to do all of the following:
- Develop, consult on, and provide LGBTQ+ related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other LEA personnel to identify and proactively prevent LGBTQ+ discrimination;
- Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the SPI, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a LEA, to LEAs to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
- Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
- Create a list of resources and identify available training that LEAs may share with teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the CDE has made available.
- Engage with LEAs to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to LGBTQ+ discrimination;
- Provide available information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate training, including, but not limited to, Providing Relevant, Inclusive Support that Matters (PRISM) training, for teachers, administrators, and other LEA personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
- Nondiscrimination laws;
- Trauma-informed restorative practices;
- Bullying prevention and response;
- Navigating politically charged environments; and
- Implementing inclusive curriculum.
- Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints relating to LGBTQ+ discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade;
- Requires that the reports not include any personally identifiable information;
- Engage with relevant community stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community, organizations that support LGBTQ+ youth, LGBTQ+ parent groups, and organizations that support transgender, gender nonbinary, and intersex youth, to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful LGBTQ+ discrimination; and
- Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the SBE, to the Legislature, on legislation necessary for the prevention of LGBTQ+ discrimination in educational settings.
- Requires the OCR to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
- Requires the Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of the GovOps, to do all of the following:
- Develop, consult on, and provide disability-related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other LEA personnel to identify and proactively prevent disability discrimination;
- Provide technical assistance, upon the request of the SPI, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of a LEA, to LEAs to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
- Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
- Create a list of resources and identify available training that LEAs may share with teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices that the CDE has made available.
- Engage with LEAs to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to disability discrimination;
- Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel. The training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
- Nondiscrimination laws;
- Trauma-informed restorative practices;
- Bullying prevention and response;
- Navigating politically charged environments; and
- Implementing inclusive curriculum.
- Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made relating to disability-related discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK-12th grade;
- Requires that the reports not include any personally identifiable information;
- Engage with relevant community stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that support the disability community, organizations that support pupils and youth with disabilities, organizations that support parents and guardians of pupils with disabilities and their families, to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful disability discrimination; and
- Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the SBE, to the Legislature, on legislation necessary for the prevention of disability discrimination in educational settings.
- Repeals a statement of intent to enact the duties and responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators.
EXISTING LAW:
Federal law:
- Provides that, in part, “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 educational program of activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Enforcement of compliance is initiated upon the filing of a complaint alleging a violation of Title IX. (Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, United States Code (USC) 1681 et seq.)
- The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that a free appropriate public education (FAPE) be made available to individuals with exceptional needs. (20 USC 1400 et seq.)
- Authorizes a parent or an LEA to file a due process complaint relating to the identification, evaluation or educational placement of a child with a disability, or the provision of a free, appropriate public education (FAPE). (20 USC 1415)
- Requires each school district and county office of education (COE), or a local public or private agency that receives funding from the state or federal government, to designate a person to serve as the Title IX compliance coordinator to enforce compliance at the local level, including coordinating any complaints of non-compliance. (34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 106.8(a))
State law:
- Establishes the position of the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and the LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator under the OCR, and subjects each position to appointment by the Governor and confirmation by the Senate. (EC 33803.2-33803.5.)
- States that it is the policy of the State of California to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, equal rights, and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state. States that the purpose is to prohibit acts that are contrary to that policy and to provide remedies that will eliminate these discriminatory acts, including discrimination not just because of one protected trait, but also because of the combination of two or more protected bases. (Education Code (EC) 200)
- States that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, in any program or activity conducted by an educational institution that receives, or benefits from, state financial assistance, or enrolls pupils who receive state student financial aid. (EC 220)
- Requires the CDE to monitor adherence to federal and state non-discrimination laws in any program or activity conducted by an educational institution as part of its regular monitoring and review of LEAs, commonly known as the Categorical Program Monitoring process. Existing law requires CDE to assess whether LEAs have taken specified actions relative to anti-discrimination policies, complaint and investigation processes, documentation, protection from retaliation, and identification of the responsible LEA officer for ensuring compliance. (EC 234 et seq.)
- Provides that the governing board of a school district has the primary responsibility for ensuring that school district programs and activities are free from discrimination based on age and characteristics protected pursuant to the Penal Code, and for monitoring compliance with any and all rules and regulations. (EC 260)
- Requires the SPI to establish and implement a system of complaint processing, known as the Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP), for specified educational programs. (EC 3315)
- Requires an LEA, if it finds merit in a complaint, or the SPI finds merit in an appeal, to take corrective actions consistent with the requirements of existing law that will provide a remedy to the affected pupil, or to all affected pupils, parents, and guardians. (EC 33315)
- Establishes the OCR under the administration of the GovOps to work directly with LEAs to prevent and address discrimination and bias, as specified. Requires the OCR to engage with and seek advice from coordinators within the OCR on actions implemented by the OCR. Establishes the position of the Director of the OCR and subjects it to appointment from the Governor and confirmation by the Senate. (EC 3801)
- Requires that a complaint alleging violations of the IDEA be investigated in an expeditious and effective manner in accordance with applicable federal law. (EC 56500.2)
- Requires that a written decision be issued to the complainant in accordance with the 60-day time limit. (EC 56500.2)
- Requires the party filing the complaint to forward a copy of the complaint to the LEA or public agency serving the child at the same time the party files the complaint with the CDE. (EC 56500.2)
- Requires the SPI to develop a model form to assist parents and public agencies in filing a state complaint under this section. (EC 56500.2)
- Requires the OCR, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of GovOps, to carry out several tasks including providing education and educational resources to identify and prevent antisemitism and other forms of discrimination and bias, and sharing relevant laws and regulations with educational state agencies, LEAs, and community stakeholders; annually submitting a report to GovOps, the SPI, the executive director of the SBE, and the Legislature on the state of discrimination and bias in all LEAs, as specified; recommending strategies to combat discrimination or bias to CDE and LEAs, including proactive strategies using a restorative justice approach with a focus on repairing harm, fostering empathy, and healing relationships; reviewing reports from the CDE that include summaries of all complaints of discrimination filed pursuant to the UCP and advise on subsequent actions; providing assistance to the office of the Attorney General and the CDE on proper protocols to respond to discrimination complaints filed pursuant to the UCP. (EC 33802)
- Establishes the position of the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, subject to appointment by the Governor and confirmation by the Senate. (EC 33803.1)
- Requires the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of GovOps to carry out several tasks, including developing, consulting on, and providing antisemitism prevention education to teachers, staff, governing board or body members, administrators, and other LEA personnel to identify and proactively prevent antisemitism; make recommendations in coordination with the executive director of the SBE, to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of antisemitism in educational settings; engaging and advising on actions taken by the OCR on issues related to antisemitism and the Jewish community; tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI, complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions on complaints made pursuant to the UCP, as specified; and engaging with relevant community stakeholders in the execution of their duties. (EC 33803.1)
- Requires the CDE, by October 1 each year, to issue a management bulletin to all LEAs describing protections and responsibilities regarding prohibitions against unlawful discrimination, as specified. (EC 280)
- Requires the SPI, in consultation with the executive director of the SBE and the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, to develop and maintain a distinct internet web page containing resources and information specific to antisemitism on its internet website. (EC 280)
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
- The Government Operations Agency (GovOps) estimates General Fund costs of $2.25 million in the 2027-28 fiscal year and $1.75 million thereafter. This estimate assumes a cost of $1.25 million for the four new coordinator positions and two additional support positions that GovOps indicates it would need for the added workload requirements. Additionally, GovOps estimates $250,000 in General Fund costs to develop educational materials to accommodate the expanded responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators and $750,000 to acquire new office space to accommodate a larger office ($500,000 would be one-time).
- This bill could expand the number of complaints filed under the Uniform Complaints Procedures (UCP) process, thereby increasing Proposition 98 General Fund costs associated with the existing UCP mandate. The extent of these costs is unknown and would depend on the number of complaints filed each year. The UCP mandate has an adopted statewide cost estimate of $209,613 and a prospective cost of $34,751 each year.
COMMENTS:
Need for the bill. The author states, “Last year, working with my Diversity caucus colleagues- the California Black Legislative Caucus, AAPI Legislative Caucus, and LGBTQ Legislative Caucus- the Legislature passed SB 48 (Gonzalez/Weber/Fong/Ward), which created four discrimination prevention coordinators under the newly established Office of Civil Rights. My colleagues and I committed to working on subsequent legislation to clarify the role of each coordinator and create a Disability Discrimination Prevention coordinator based on stakeholder feedback.
SB 998 builds on that commitment by establishing clear guidelines and expectations for the service coordinators to provide, at the request of the local educational agency, technical assistance so that all student populations receive equal protection, proactive support services, and timely responses to discriminatory incidents. With the dismantling of the Federal Department of Education, the state must step up to foster a positive campus climate, deliver targeted support services for our student population, and address discrimination against any student in California schools.”
Bill establishes duties of discrimination prevention coordinator positions created last year. Last year, AB 715 (Zbur), Chapter 428, Statutes of 2025, established the OCR under GovOps and an Antisemitism Coordinator position within that office.
SB 48 (Gonzalez), Chapter 429, Statutes of 2025 established disability prevention coordinators for race/ethnicity, religion, LGBTQ+, and gender within the OCR. The duties of those coordinators were not specified, and the statute stated the intent of the Legislature to specify those duties in subsequent legislation. This bill specifies those duties, adds a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and establishes various deputies under the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Coordinator. The duties and responsibilities of the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator are not amended by this bill.
Differences between coordinator positions and the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator. AB 715 (Zbur), Chapter 428, Statutes of 2025, established the OCR and the Antisemitism Coordinator. The duties and responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators established by this bill largely mirror those of the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, with a few exceptions.
AB 715 requires that if the SPI determines, pursuant to a complaint filed directly or on appeal to the SPI, that a violation of antidiscrimination law involves antisemitism, that any requirement to develop and implement an improvement plan be created in consultation with the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator. This is not a role proposed for the other discrimination prevention coordinators.
Additionally, as noted by the Senate Education Committee, there are two roles given to the OCR, rather than a particular coordinator. These include:
- Authorization for the newly outlined coordinators to provide technical assistance to LEAs to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners--upon the request of the SPI, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of an LEA; and
- Authorization for the newly outlined coordinators to provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel.
Federal law makes the CDE the entity responsible for the enforcement of special education law. The Disability Prevention Coordinator’s duties must not overlap or conflict with CDE’s role. Federal law vests responsibility for monitoring and enforcing multiple education statutes to state education agencies (SEAs). In California, the CDE is the state agency responsible for ensuring compliance with state and federal civil rights laws and regulations. To do so, the CDE maintains an Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO), which conducts compliance activities related to:
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the implementation of 28 CFR, Part 35; and
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and implementing regulations (34 CFR, Part 104), which prohibit discrimination on the basis of handicap.
Under federal law, the CDE is also responsible for the enforcement of special education law as prescribed by the IDEA. The IDEA is both an education law and a civil rights law. Enforcing compliance with special education law is a complex function involving a significant portion of the staff of the CDE Special Education Division and significant local staffing resources. The CDE also undertakes activities to prevent violations of the IDEA, which could be viewed as the prevention of discrimination against students with disabilities.
According to the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE), “Disability harassment that adversely affects an elementary or secondary student's education may also be a denial of [free, appropriate public education] FAPE under the IDEA, as well as Section 504 and Title II…Harassment of a student based on disability may decrease the student's ability to benefit from his or her education and amount to a denial of FAPE.” The USDOE notes that “Parents may initiate administrative due process procedures under IDEA, Section 504, or Title II to address a denial of FAPE, including a denial that results from disability harassment.”
This bill proposes to establish a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, who would be responsible for working with LEAs to prevent discrimination on the basis of disability. The Committee may wish to consider that it is not clear which statutes would guide the work of this Coordinator, and that since discrimination against students with disabilities can constitute a violation of the IDEA, this lack of clarity could result in duplication, conflict, and confusion if the Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator viewed their responsibilities to overlap with those of the CDE.
Native American Deputy Coordinator position. This bill would establish Deputy Coordinator positions under the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator for Anti-Black Racism, Anti-AANHPI Discrimination, and Anti-Latino Discrimination, all of whom would report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. It does not establish a Deputy Coordinator position on Anti-Native American discrimination.
Recommended amendments. Staff recommends that the bill be amended to:
- Establish a Deputy Coordinator for Anti-Native American Discrimination Prevention, with duties aligned to those of the other coordinators, and including, in the provision relating to the reporting of complaints, existing law related to the wearing of tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies, and the use of derogatory Native American terms for school or athletic team names, mascots, or nicknames.
- Clarify that the measure does not alter the responsibilities of the CDE under the IDEA and its implementing regulations.
- Remove the requirement and related recommendations for a separate report on complaints of discrimination against one religious group, and instead require that the report on religious discrimination complaints be disaggregated by religious groups in California. Also include a statement of Legislative intent that this include disaggregated data for the top religious groups targeted for hate crimes, consistent with the most recent report on hate crimes by the Attorney General, including but not limited to anti-Muslim, anti-Jewish, anti-Hindu, anti-Catholic, and anti-Sikh discrimination.
Arguments in support. Jewish California writes, “Discrimination in California's schools violates our most sacred commitments to justice and human dignity. Students of every faith, race, gender identity, and sexual orientation deserve to learn in environments free from discrimination and hostility. SB 998 outlines the responsibilities of the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill also creates a new Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator and delineates its responsibilities.
Additionally, the bill creates new Deputy Coordinators on anti-black racism, anti-Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) racism, and anti-Latino racism that will work under the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
The coordinators will work with local educational agencies to develop policies, provide staff training, and support students who experience discrimination. This builds on AB 715 (Zbur, Addis) – a bill we sponsored last year – which created the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator and outlined its responsibilities, and SB 48 (Gonzalez), which established the other four coordinators but did not identify their specific roles. By clarifying these coordinators' explicit responsibilities, SB 998 ensures that California's schools have the infrastructure and support to proactively address discrimination.
SB 998 strengthens school climates by ensuring that every student – regardless of religion, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability status – experiences a welcoming, affirming educational environment.”
Arguments in opposition. BUSD Jewish Parents for Collective Liberation writes, “Given the current political climate and the way that accusations of discrimination (particularly antisemitism) are currently being used for political control of educational institutions in K-12 and higher education, we strongly oppose any legislation that would make any civil rights coordinator a political appointment.
These appointments should be qualified civil servants based on competence, qualifications, and competitive examinations.
As Jewish parents, we will continue to oppose any legislation that might allow politicians to use accusations of antisemitism for political gains rather than to support our students.”
Prior legislation. AB 2615 (Zbur and Addis) of the 2025-26 Session would make changes to requirements regarding instruction, instructional materials, and complaints, including requiring the SPI, when instructional materials are found to be discriminatory, to ensure that LEAs omit all violating portions of the instructional materials; removing requirements that instruction and instructional materials be consistent with accepted standards of professional responsibility; and modifying requirements regarding factual accuracy of instruction and instructional materials.
SB 48 (Gonzalez) Chapter 429, Statutes of 2025, requires the OCR under GovOps to employ a Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and an LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. Requires that these positions all be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
AB 715 (Zbur), Chapter 428, Statutes of 2025, establishes the OCR under the administration of GovOps and the position of Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator within OCR; requires LEAs that know or have reason to know that instructional or professional development materials were used that violate existing anti-discrimination laws to investigate and remediate the action; requires instruction and instructional materials to be factually accurate, align with the adopted curriculum and existing standards for instructional materials, and be consistent with accepted standards of professional responsibility; authorizes the CDE to require specified corrective action be taken by LEAs; and requires specified corrective action be taken by organizations contracted to provide instructional or professional development materials if those materials are found to violate specified provisions of this bill.
SB 1421 (Stern) of the 2023-24 Session would have required the CDE to establish the OCR within the CDE to receive and investigate complaints reported through the UCP that allege unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying; to assume the CDE’s duties as it pertains to these complaints; and to develop procedures to optimize complaint reporting and response. This bill was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
AB 1078 (Jackson), Chapter 229, Statutes of 2023, among other things, requires the CDE to issue guidance related to how to help school districts, COEs, charter schools, and school personnel manage conversations about race and gender, and how to review instructional materials to ensure that they represent diverse perspectives and are culturally relevant.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
Agudath Israel of California
American Jewish Committee - Los Angeles
American Jewish Committee - San Diego
American Jewish Committee - Northern California
Association of California School Administrators
Beverly Hills Synagogue
California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus
California State PTA
Democrats for Israel Los Angeles
Disability Rights California
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc.
Hillel of San Diego
Holocaust Museum LAJCC - Federation of San Luis Obispo
Jewish Community Relations Council - Bay Area
Jewish Community Relations Council - Santa Barbara County
Jewish Community Relations Council - Jewish Long Beach
Jewish California
Jewish Center for Justice
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Democratic Club of Marin
Jewish Family Service Los Angeles
Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley
Jewish Federation Bay Area
Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara
Jewish Federation of Orange County
Jewish Federation of the Desert
Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys
Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region
Jewish Free Loan Association
Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation
JFCS Long Beach and Orange County
National Council of Jewish Women – San Francisco
Valley Beth Shalom
Opposition
1021 Jewish Workers for Justice
1021 Members for Palestine
Beyt Tikkun: A Synagogue Without Walls
Jewish Parents for Collective Liberation
Analysis Prepared by: Tanya Lieberman / ED. / (916) 319-2087
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-4171 | SB 998 |
THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 998
Author: Gonzalez (D) and Weber Pierson (D), et al.
Amended: 4/8/26
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 5-1, 4/15/26
AYES: Pérez, Cabaldon, Cortese, Gonzalez, Reyes
NOES: Choi
NO VOTE RECORDED: Ochoa Bogh
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: 11-1, 4/21/26
AYES: Umberg, Allen, Ashby, Caballero, Durazo, Laird, Reyes, Stern, Wahab, Weber Pierson, Wiener
NOES: Niello
NO VOTE RECORDED: Valladares
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 5-2, 5/14/26
AYES: Cervantes, Cabaldon, Grayson, Richardson, Wahab
NOES: Seyarto, Dahle
SUBJECT: Educational equity: discrimination prevention coordinators
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST:
This bill establishes roles and responsibilities for the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator under the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and additionally requires the OCR to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. This bill also requires the OCR to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander (Anti-AAPI) Discrimination, and a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, and would require these deputy coordinators to report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
ANALYSIS:
Existing state law:
- States that it is the policy of the State of California to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, equal rights, and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state. States that the purpose is to prohibit acts that are contrary to that policy and to provide remedies that will eliminate these discriminatory acts, including discrimination not just because of one protected trait, but also because of the combination of two or more protected bases. (Education Code (EDC) § 200)
- States that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, in any program or activity conducted by an educational institution that receives, or benefits from, state financial assistance, or enrolls pupils who receive state student financial aid. (EDC § 220)
- Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to establish and implement a system of complaint processing, known as the Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP), for specified educational programs. (EDC § 33315)
- Requires a local educational agency (LEA), if it finds merit in a complaint, or the SPI finds merit in an appeal, to take corrective actions consistent with the requirements of existing law that will provide a remedy to the affected pupil, or to all affected pupils, parents, and guardians. (EDC § 33315)
- Establishes the OCR under the administration of the Government Operations Agency (GovOps) to work directly with LEAs to prevent and address discrimination and bias, as specified. Requires the OCR to engage with and seek advice from coordinators within the OCR on actions implemented by the OCR. Establishes the position of the Director of the OCR and subjects it to appointment from the Governor and confirmation by the Senate. (EDC § 33801)
- Requires the OCR, in consultation with the California Department of Education (CDE), and under the supervision of GovOps, to carry out several tasks including providing education and educational resources to identify and prevent antisemitism and other forms of discrimination and bias, and sharing relevant laws and regulations with educational state agencies, LEAs, and community stakeholders; annually submitting a report to GovOps, the SPI, the executive director of the State Board of Education (SBE), and the Legislature on the state of discrimination and bias in all LEAs, as specified; recommending strategies to combat discrimination or bias to CDE and LEAs, including proactive strategies using a restorative justice approach with a focus on repairing harm, fostering empathy, and healing relationships; reviewing reports from the CDE that include summaries of all complaints of discrimination filed pursuant to the UCP and advise on subsequent actions; providing assistance to the office of the Attorney General and the CDE on proper protocols to respond to discrimination complaints filed pursuant to the UCP. (EDC § 33802)
- Establishes the position of the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, subject to appointment by the Governor and confirmation by the Senate. Requires the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of GovOps to carry out several tasks, including developing, consulting on, and providing antisemitism prevention education specified school personnel; making recommendations in coordination with the executive director of the SBE, to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of antisemitism in educational settings; engaging and advising on actions taken by the OCR on issues related to antisemitism and the Jewish community; tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI, complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions on complaints made pursuant to the UCP, as specified; and engaging with relevant community stakeholders in the execution of their duties. (EDC § 33803.1)
- Establishes the position of the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and the LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator under the OCR, and subjects each position to appointment by the Governor and confirmation by the Senate. (EDC § 33803.2-33803.5.)
This bill:
- Requires the OCR to provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as specified.
- States that the roles and responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators established pursuant to this bill shall not be limited to their specific title or discrimination subject to allow for flexibility in their roles.
- Repeals placeholder language setting forth the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation to establish the coordinator roles proposed by this bill.
- Renames the LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator as the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
- Establishes the position of the Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, subject to appointment by the Governor and confirmation by the Senate.
- Requires the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and the Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE and under the supervision of GovOps, to do the following pertaining to their respective communities:
- Develop, consult on, and provide discrimination related education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other LEA personnel to identify and proactively prevent respective discrimination.
- Provide technical assistance to LEAs to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners, as specified.
- Engage with LEAs, upon the request of the SPI, district superintendent, county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of an LEA, to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to discrimination.
- Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel.
- Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, the SPI, complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to the UCP relating to discrimination in all local LEAs serving pupils in transitional kindergarten (TK), kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
- Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful discrimination.
- Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of discrimination in educational settings.
- Requires the OCR to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander (Anti-AAPI) Discrimination, and a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, each of which shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
- Requires the respective Deputy Coordinators on Anti-Black Racism, Anti-AAPI Discrimination, and Anti-Latino Discrimination to do the following pertaining to their respective communities, in addition to the responsibilities assigned to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator:
- Make recommendations to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Black, Anti-AAPI, and anti-Latino-related incidents or educational disparities.
- Work with the leadership of the OCR to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Black, AAPI, and Latino pupils and LEA personnel.
- Annually report statistics on anti-Latino discrimination against pupils and LEA personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Black, Anti-AAPI, and anti-Latino discrimination at the root of the problem.
- Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Black, Anti-AAPI, and anti-Latino discrimination within society and in educational settings.
- Engage with Black, AAPI, and Latino education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Latino discrimination.
- Requires the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to track and report complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions made pursuant to the UCP relating to anti-immigrant discrimination.
Comments
- Need for the bill. According to the author, “Last year, the Legislature passed SB 48 (Gonzalez/Weber/Fong/Ward), which created four discrimination prevention coordinators under the newly established Office of Civil Rights. My colleagues and I committed to working on subsequent legislation to clarify the role of each coordinator and create a Disability Discrimination Prevention coordinator based on stakeholder feedback. SB 998 builds on that commitment by establishing clear guidelines and expectations for the service coordinators to provide upon the request of the local educational agency to ensure that all student populations receive equal protection, proactive support services, and timely responses to discriminatory incidents. With the dismantling of the Federal Department of Education, the state must step up to foster a positive campus climate, deliver targeted support services for our student population, and address discrimination against any student in California schools.”
- Complaint process. This bill requires the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to track and annually report on complaints and resolutions, or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to the UCP relating to the respective forms of discrimination in all local LEAs serving pupils TK, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12.
As prescribed by statute and regulations, each LEA has the primary responsibility to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations. Each LEA is required to investigate complaints alleging failure to comply with applicable state and federal laws and regulations and/or alleging discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, and seek to resolve those complaints.
A complaint through the UCP is a written and signed statement alleging a violation of federal or state laws or regulations, which may include an allegation of unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying.
- CDE Resources for Managing Conversations. In 2023, the Legislature passed AB 1078 (Jackson, Chapter 229, Statutes of 2023), requiring CDE to provide guidance to support school districts, county offices of education (COEs), charter schools, and school personnel in their managing of conversations about race and gender, as well as guidance on how to review instructional materials to ensure that they represent diverse perspectives and are culturally relevant. The resulting guidance is culminated in the AB 1078 Accurate and Inclusive Curriculum webpage, outlining California’s existing laws, policies, and resources related to creating safe and inclusive learning environments.
- Antibias Education Grant Program. In the 2021–22 and 2022–23 State Budgets, the Legislature appropriated a total of $20 million to the SPI to establish the Antibias Education Grant Program— funding training and resources to prevent and address bias or prejudice toward any group of people based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, immigration status, language, or any actual or perceived characteristic listed in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code. The statute placed emphasis on preventing antisemitism and bias or prejudice toward groups, including, but not limited to, African Americans, Asian-Pacific Islanders, Latinos, and people who are LGBTQ youth. Across the two cohorts, 104 LEA grantees received award amounts ranging from $75,000 to $392,235.
- The Safe and Supportive Schools Act. In 2023, the Legislature passed AB 5 (Zbur, Chapter 220, Statutes of 2023), which (1) required CDE to complete the development of an online training curriculum and delivery platform to provide training on cultural competency in supporting LGBTQ students; and (2) requires, LEAs serving students in grades 7-12 to provide and require at least one hour of training annually to all certificated staff, beginning with the 2025-26 school year through the 2029-30 school year.
- California Teachers Collaborative for Holocaust and Genocide Education (Collaborative). The Collaborative was established in 2021 as a statewide professional development program on genocide for school districts, COEs, and charter school teachers. The Collaborative was initially created by the Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) Holocaust Center in San Francisco with support from the CDE, Marin COE, and the State of California, and was later codified with the passage of SB 1277 (Stern, Chapter 890, Statutes of 2024). The Collaborative also works in close collaboration with the Governor’s Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education. The Collaborative’s goals include:
- Creating new, standards-aligned lessons on the Holocaust and genocide for all 6-12th grade students in California;
- Empowering and unifying educators in teaching the lessons of history and about what happens when bias goes unchecked; and
- Combatting rising antisemitism and hate by creating more respectful and empathetic next generations.
In 2024, the Collaborative launched a website to serve as a central location to connect educators with digital resources, including best practices and curricular materials, and information about workshops, trainings, and conferences.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
- The Government Operations Agency (GovOps) estimates General Fund costs of $2.25 million in the 2027-28 fiscal year and $1.75 million thereafter. This estimate assumes a cost of $1.25 million for the four new coordinator positions and two additional support positions that GovOps indicates it would need for the added workload requirements. Additionally, GovOps estimates $250,000 in General Fund costs to develop educational materials to accommodate the expanded responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators and $750,000 to acquire new office space to accommodate a larger office ($500,000 would be one-time).
- This bill could expand the number of complaints filed under the Uniform Complaints Procedures (UCP) process, thereby increasing Proposition 98 General Fund costs associated with the existing UCP mandate. The extent of these costs is unknown and would depend on the number of complaints filed each year. The UCP mandate has an adopted statewide cost estimate of $209,613 and a prospective cost of $34,751 each year.
SUPPORT: (Verified 5/14/26)
Agudath Israel of California
AJC - Los Angeles
AJC - San Diego
AJC Northern California
Beverly Hills Synagogue
California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus
Democrats for Israel Los Angeles
Disability Rights California
Equality California
Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist of America
Hillel of San Diego
Holocaust Museum LA
JCC/Federation of San Luis Obispo
JCRC Bay Area
JCRC Santa Barbara County
JCRC, Jewish Long Beach
Jewish California
Jewish Center for Justice
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Democratic Club of Marin
Jewish Family Service LA
Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley
Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara
Jewish Federation of Orange County
Jewish Federation of the Desert
Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys
Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region
Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation
JFCS Long Beach and Orange County
National Council of Jewish Women -San Francisco
Northern California Jewish Labor Committee
Valley Beth Shalom
Youth Justice Education Clinic, Center for Juvenile Law and Policy, Loyola Law School
OPPOSITION: (Verified 5/14/26)
Jewish Parents for Collective Liberation
Jewish Voice for Peace Bay Area
Jewish Voice for Peace Santa Barbara
Jewish Voice for Peace, Los Angeles
National Campus Jewish Alliance California Chapter
Prepared by: Therresa Austin / ED. / (916) 651-4105
5/16/26 10:00:41
**** END ****
SENATE COMMITTEE ON
Senator Sabrina Cervantes, Chair
2025 - 2026 Regular Session
SB 998 (Gonzalez) - Educational equity: discrimination prevention coordinators
Version: | Policy Vote: |
Urgency: | Mandate: |
Hearing Date: | Consultant: |
Bill Summary:
This bill establishes the following positions under the Office of Civil Rights (OCR): Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander (Anti-AAPI) Discrimination, and Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination. This bill also establishes roles and responsibilities for the OCR’s existing Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
Fiscal Impact:
- The Government Operations Agency (GovOps) estimates General Fund costs of $2.25 million in the 2027-28 fiscal year and $1.75 million thereafter. This estimate assumes a cost of $1.25 million for the four new coordinator positions and two additional support positions that GovOps indicates it would need for the added workload requirements. Additionally, GovOps estimates $250,000 in General Fund costs to develop educational materials to accommodate the expanded responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators and $750,000 to acquire new office space to accommodate a larger office ($500,000 would be one-time).
- This bill could expand the number of complaints filed under the Uniform Complaints Procedures (UCP) process, thereby increasing Proposition 98 General Fund costs associated with the existing UCP mandate. The extent of these costs is unknown and would depend on the number of complaints filed each year. The UCP mandate has an adopted statewide cost estimate of $209,613 and a prospective cost of $34,751 each year.
Background:
Existing law establishes the OCR under the administration of GovOps to work directly with local educational agencies (LEAs) to prevent and address discrimination and bias, as specified. The law requires the OCR to engage with and seek advice from coordinators within the OCR on actions implemented by the OCR. Existing law establishes the position of the Director of the OCR and subjects it to appointment from the Governor and confirmation by the Senate.
Existing law requires the OCR, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of GovOps, to carry out several tasks including providing education and educational resources to identify and prevent antisemitism and other forms of discrimination and bias, and sharing relevant laws and regulations with educational state agencies, LEAs, and community stakeholders; annually submitting a report to GovOps, the SPI, the executive director of the State Board of Education (SBE), and the Legislature on the state of discrimination and bias in all LEAs, as specified; recommending strategies to combat discrimination or bias to CDE and LEAs, including proactive strategies using a restorative justice approach with a focus on repairing harm, fostering empathy, and healing relationships; reviewing reports from the CDE that include summaries of all complaints of discrimination filed pursuant to the UCP and advise on subsequent actions; providing assistance to the office of the Attorney General and the CDE on proper protocols to respond to discrimination complaints filed pursuant to the UCP.
Existing law establishes the position of the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, subject to appointment by the Governor and confirmation by the Senate. The law requires the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of GovOps to carry out several tasks, including developing, consulting on, and providing antisemitism prevention education to teachers, staff, governing board or body members, administrators, and other LEA personnel to identify and proactively prevent antisemitism; make recommendations in coordination with the executive director of the SBE, to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of antisemitism in educational settings; engaging and advising on actions taken by the OCR on issues related to antisemitism and the Jewish community; tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI, complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions on complaints made pursuant to the UCP, as specified; and engaging with relevant community stakeholders in the execution of their duties.
Existing law prohibits any person from being subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, in any program or activity conducted by an educational institution that receives, or benefits from, state financial assistance, or enrolls pupils who receive state student financial aid.
Existing law prohibits a teacher from giving instruction and a school district from sponsoring any activity that promotes a discriminatory bias on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, or sexual orientation, or because of a characteristic listed in Section 220.
Existing law prohibits the SBE and any governing board from adopting any textbooks or other instructional materials for use in the public schools that contain any matter reflecting adversely upon persons on the basis of race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, or sexual orientation, or because of a characteristic listed in Section 220. It also prohibits a governing board from prohibiting the continued use of an appropriately adopted textbook, instructional material, or curriculum on the basis that it contains inclusive and diverse perspectives.
Proposed Law:
This bill requires the OCR to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, and outlines its roles and responsibilities, as specified.
This bill establishes roles and responsibilities for the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator under the OCR, as specified. Notable responsibilities include:
- Develop, consult on, and provide discrimination related education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other LEA personnel to identify and proactively prevent discrimination.
- Provide technical assistance to LEAs to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners, as specified.
- Engage with LEAs, upon the request of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), district superintendent, county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of an LEA, to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to the discrimination.
- Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, the SPI, complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to the UCP relating to the discrimination in all local LEAs serving pupils in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
This bill requires the OCR to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill specifies the coordinator’s responsibilities, including making recommendations to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Blackness-related incidents or educational disparities, working with the leadership of the OCR to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Black pupils and LEA personnel, and reporting statistics on anti-Black racism against pupils and LEA personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Black racism at the root of the problem.
This bill requires the OCR to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-AAPI Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill specifies the coordinator’s responsibilities, including making recommendations to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-AAPI-related incidents or educational disparities and working with the leadership of the OCR to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support AAPI pupils and LEA personnel.
This bill requires the OCR to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The bill specifies the coordinator’s responsibilities, including making recommendations to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Latino-related incidents or educational disparities and working with the leadership of the OCR to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Latino pupils and LEA personnel.
This bill renames the position of the LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator and specifies its responsibilities.
Related Legislation:
AB 715 (Zbur, Chapter 428, Statutes of 2025) establishes the OCR under the administration of GovOps and the position of Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator within OCR. The bill also requires LEAs that know or have reason to know that instructional or professional development materials were used that violate existing anti-discrimination laws to investigate and remediate the action.
SB 48 (Gonzalez, Chapter 429, Statutes of 2025) requires the OCR to employ a Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and an LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
Staff Comments:
AB 715 (Zbur, Chapter 428, Statutes of 2025) was enacted last year and established the OCR within GovOps as well as an Anti-Semitism Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. AB 715 also defined the roles and responsibilities of the Anti-Semitism Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. Additionally, SB 48 (Gonzalez, Chapter 429, Statutes of 2025) was signed into law and created four discrimination prevention coordinators. However, the bill did not define the roles and responsibilities of those positions. This bill follows up on AB 715 and SB 48 and proposes to establish guidelines and responsibilities for the four discrimination prevention positions. The bill also requires the OCR to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander Discrimination, and a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination. According to the author, “My colleagues and I committed to working on subsequent legislation to clarify the role of each coordinator and create a Disability Discrimination Prevention coordinator based on stakeholder feedback. SB 998 builds on that commitment by establishing clear guidelines and expectations for the service coordinators to provide upon the request of the local educational agency to ensure that all student populations receive equal protection, proactive support services, and timely responses to discriminatory incidents. With the dismantling of the Federal Department of Education, the state must step up to foster a positive campus climate, deliver targeted support services for our student population, and address discrimination against any student in California schools.”
-- END --
Senator Thomas Umberg, Chair
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill No: SB 998 (Author:Gonzalez)
Version: April 8, 2026
Hearing Date: April 21, 2026
Fiscal: Yes
Urgency: No
Consultant: ME
SUBJECT
Educational equity: discrimination prevention coordinators
DIGEST
This bill establishes roles and responsibilities for the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator under the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and additionally requires the OCR to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2025, the Legislature enacted SB 48 that created four discrimination prevention coordinators. (SB 48 (Gonzalez), Ch. 429, Stats. 2025.) The legislation did not define the roles and responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators. The author brings this bill to establish guidelines and responsibilities of these positions. Also in 2025, the Legislature enacted legislation to establish the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) in the Government Operations Agency and an Anti-Semitism Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. (AB 715 (Zbur), Ch. 428, Stats. 2025.) That legislation set forth the roles and responsibilities of the Anti-Semitism Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
This bill establishes roles and responsibilities of the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator under the OCR and additionally requires the OCR to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. This bill also requires the OCR to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander (Anti-AAPI) Discrimination, and a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, and requires these deputy coordinators to report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
This bill is supported by Disability Rights California, the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, and Equality California. The Committee has received no opposition to the measure. According to the author, the Chairs of the California Legislative Latino, AAPI, Black, and LGBTQ+ Caucuses are collaborating on this bill as a follow up to SB 48. This bill passed out of the Senate Education Committee with a vote of 5 to 1.
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE LAW
Existing law:
- Provides that no student shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics that is contained in the definition of hate crimes, including immigration status, in any program or activity conducted by an educational institution that receives state financial assistance. (Educ. Code § 220.)
- Prohibits the governing board of a school district, a county board of education, or the governing body of a charter school from adopting or approving the use of any textbook, instructional material, supplemental instructional material, or curriculum for classroom instruction if the use of the textbook, instructional material, supplemental instructional material, or curriculum would subject a pupil to unlawful discrimination pursuant to Section 220 of the Education Code. (Educ. Code § 244.)
- Establishes that it is the policy of the State of California to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other specified characteristic, equal rights and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state.
- Establishes the Office of Civil Rights, under the administration of the Government Operations Agency. (Educ. Code §33802.1.)
- Requires the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and an LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. Existing law requires each of the coordinators to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. (Educ. Code §§33803.2; 33803.3; 33803.4; 22803.5.)
This bill:
- Requires the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
- Changes the title of the LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to instead be the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
- Requires each of the coordinators, in consultation with the State Department of Education, and under the supervision of the Government Operations Agency, to, among other things:
a) develop, consult on, and provide discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other local educational agency personnel to identify and proactively prevent discrimination, as provided;
b) provide technical assistance, upon specified request, to local educational agencies to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners; and
c) engage with local educational agencies to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents of discrimination, as specified.
- Requires the Office of Civil Rights to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander (Anti-AAPI) Discrimination, and a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, requires these deputy coordinators to report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
- Requires the Office of Civil Rights to provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as provided.
COMMENTS
- Stated need for the bill
According to the author:
Last year, the Legislature passed SB 48 (Gonzalez/Weber/Fong/Ward), which created four discrimination prevention coordinators under the newly established Office of Civil Rights. My colleagues and I committed to working on subsequent legislation to clarify the role of each coordinator and create a Disability Discrimination Prevention coordinator based on stakeholder feedback. SB 998 builds on that commitment by establishing clear guidelines and expectations for the service coordinators to provide upon the request of the local educational agency to ensure that all student populations receive equal protection, proactive support services, and timely responses to discriminatory incidents. With the dismantling of the Federal Department of Education, the state must step up to foster a positive campus climate, deliver targeted support services for our student population, and address discrimination against any student in California schools.
2. Support
The California LGBTQ Caucus writes the following in support of the bill:
While California law currently prohibits discrimination in educational settings on the basis of disability, gender, gender identity or expression, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, and other protected characteristics, enforcement through the Uniform Complaint Procedure (UCP) has at times been delayed or inconsistent. The COVID-19 pandemic and other systemic challenges have exacerbated these gaps, and recent federal rollbacks have heightened risks to vulnerable students, including LGBTQ+ and immigrant youth.
According to the California Department of Justice’s 2025 State of Pride Report, overall anti-LGBTQ+ bias hate incidents rose 13.9% in one year alone, while anti-transgender bias hate incidents rose by 12.3%. These are not just statistics – this is a call to action. Hate and harassment targeting youth is increasing, and it is showing up in our schools. FBI data shows that schools are now the third most common location for reported hate crimes nationwide, and the California Civil Rights Department found that 80% of youth aged 12-17 who experienced hate did so at school.
SB 998 ensures that schools have clear guidance and designated staff to prevent discrimination and respond promptly when incidents occur. By defining the responsibilities of the centralized role focused on LGBTQ+ student protections, the bill empowers educators, parents, and students with the tools they need to maintain safe, equitable, and supportive learning environments. This measure is a critical step toward reducing harassment, bullying, and discrimination in California’s schools and ensuring that all students can thrive without fear of bias or harm.
Disability Rights California writes the following in support of SB 998:
DRC provides legal advice to thousands of disabled students and their families across California every year. Unfortunately, we still hear many stories of discrimination based on disability and other protected characteristics in educational settings.
SB 998 is an important and timely expansion upon last year’s SB 48 that not only clarifies the roles of the Discrimination Prevention Coordinators for Religion, Race and Ethnicity, Gender, and LGBTQ+ students under the newly established Office of Civil Rights, but also adds a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to this new structure. Despite longstanding state and federal civil rights laws, students with disabilities continue to face discrimination in schools in the form of disproportionate use of exclusionary discipline, failure to provide reasonable accommodations and disability-related supports and services, and retaliation for self-advocacy.
Preventing disability discrimination in California schools is critical, as approximately 35% of education equity complaints processed by the California Department of Education (CDE) in 2025 included an allegation of discrimination or retaliation based on disability status, per the 2025 Annual Statistical Summary released by the CDE.
SB 998 also recognizes that students often fall into more than one protected class, and that an “intersectional” approach to preventing cases of discrimination is needed in our diverse schools and state. For example, in many instances of disability discrimination, there is also discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and/or national origin, or another protected characteristic. The CDE data clearly demonstrate this, with well over half of all education equity complaints filed under two or more categories. Therefore, it is vital that all Discrimination Prevention Coordinators work beyond their specific title and subject matter to allow for a comprehensive approach to preventing discrimination in our schools.
DRC also applauds the significant emphasis on preventing discrimination in the Coordinator roles and responsibilities. Proactively fostering positive, inclusive, and connected school environments will reduce instances of discrimination and exclusion that students with protected characteristics experience at school. This approach also strengthens compliance, reduces legal exposure, and fosters inclusive learning environments for all students.
The Committee has not received opposition to this bill.
SUPPORT
California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus
Disability Rights California
Equality California
Youth Justice Education Clinic at Loyola Law School’s Center for Juvenile Law and Policy
OPPOSITION
None known
RELATED LEGISLATION
Pending Legislation: None known.
Prior Legislation:
AB 715 (Zbur, Ch. 428, Stats. 2025) (1) establishes the OCR under the administration of GovOps and the position of Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator within OCR; (2) required LEAs that know or have reason to know that instructional or professional development materials were used that violate existing anti-discrimination laws to investigate and remediate the action; (3) required instruction and instructional materials to be factually accurate, align with the adopted curriculum and existing standards for instructional materials, and be consistent with accepted standards of professional responsibility; (4) authorized the CDE to require specified corrective action be taken by LEAs; and, (5) required specified corrective action be taken by organizations contracted to provide instructional or professional development materials if those materials are found to violate specified provisions of this bill.
SB 48 (Gonzalez, Ch. 429, Stats. 2025) requires the OCR under GovOps to employ a Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and an LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. Requires that these positions all be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
SB 1421 (Stern, 2024) would have required the CDE to establish the OCR within the CDE to receive and investigate complaints reported through the UCP that allege unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying; to assume the CDE’s duties as it pertains to these complaints; and to develop procedures to optimize complaint reporting and response. SB 1421 was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
AB 1078 (Jackson, Ch. 229, Stats. 2023), among other things, required the CDE to issue guidance related to how to help school districts, COEs, charter schools, and school personnel manage conversations about race and gender, and how to review instructional materials to ensure that they represent diverse perspectives and are culturally relevant.
AB 1327 (Weber, Ch. 366, Stats. 2023) required the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) to report to the Legislature every three years on instances of racial discrimination or harassment, and required the CIF to develop, in consultation with community organizations that represent the interests of ethnic groups and communities of color, a standardized incident form to track instances of racial discrimination or harassment that occur at high school sporting games or sporting events, and annually post those results on the CIF website.
SB 857 (Laird, Ch. 228, Stats.2023) required the SPI, on or before July 1, 2024, to convene an advisory task force to identify the statewide needs of LGBTQ students and report its findings to the Legislature, the SPI, and the Governor by January 1, 2026.
AB 493 (Gloria, Ch. 775, Stats. 2019) required that, no later than July 1, 2021, the CDE develop resources or update existing resources for in-service training on schoolsite and community resources for the support of LGBTQ students, for use in LEAs, including charter schools serving students in grades 7-12. Required the CDE to periodically provide online training on this topic that can be accessed on a statewide basis.
PRIOR VOTES:
Senate Education Committee (Ayes 5, Noes 1)
**************
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, Chair
2025 - 2026 Regular
Bill No: Hearing Date: April 15, 2026
Author: | |||
Version: | April 8, 2026 | ||
Urgency: | Fiscal: | ||
Consultant: | |||
Subject:
NOTE: This bill has been referred to the Committees on Education and Judiciary. A “do pass” motion should include referral to the Committee on Judiciary.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes roles and responsibilities for the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator under the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and additionally requires the OCR to employ a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. This bill also requires the OCR to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander (Anti-AAPI) Discrimination, and a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, and would require these deputy coordinators to report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
BACKGROUND
Existing federal law:
- Provides that, in part, “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 educational program of activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Enforcement of compliance is initiated upon the filing of a complaint alleging a violation of Title IX. (Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, United States Code (USC) § 1681 et seq.)
- The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that a free appropriate public education (FAPE) be made available to individuals with exceptional needs. (20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.)
- Authorizes a parent or a local educational agency (LEA) to file a due process complaint relating to the identification, evaluation or educational placement of a child with a disability, or the provision of FAPE. (20 USC § 1415)
- Requires each school district and county office of education (COE), or a local public or private agency that receives funding from the state or federal government, to designate a person to serve as the Title IX compliance coordinator to enforce compliance at the local level, including coordinating any complaints of non-compliance. (34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 106.8(a))
Existing state law:
- States that it is the policy of the State of California to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, equal rights, and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state. States that the purpose is to prohibit acts that are contrary to that policy and to provide remedies that will eliminate these discriminatory acts, including discrimination not just because of one protected trait, but also because of the combination of two or more protected bases. (Education Code (EC) § 200)
- States that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, in any program or activity conducted by an educational institution that receives, or benefits from, state financial assistance, or enrolls pupils who receive state student financial aid. (EC § 220)
- Requires the California Department of Education (CDE) to monitor adherence to federal and state non-discrimination laws in any program or activity conducted by an educational institution as part of its regular monitoring and review of LEAs, commonly known as the Categorical Program Monitoring process. Existing law requires CDE to assess whether LEAs have taken specified actions relative to anti-discrimination policies, complaint and investigation processes, documentation, protection from retaliation, and identification of the responsible LEA officer for ensuring compliance. (EC § 234 et seq.)
- Provides that the governing board of a school district has the primary responsibility for ensuring that school district programs and activities are free from discrimination based on age and characteristics protected pursuant to the Penal Code, and for monitoring compliance with any and all rules and regulations. (EC § 260)
- Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to establish and implement a system of complaint processing, known as the Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP), for specified educational programs. (EC § 33315)
- Requires an LEA, if it finds merit in a complaint, or the SPI finds merit in an appeal, to take corrective actions consistent with the requirements of existing law that will provide a remedy to the affected pupil, or to all affected pupils, parents, and guardians. (EC § 33315)
- Establishes the OCR under the administration of the Government Operations Agency (GovOps) to work directly with LEAs to prevent and address discrimination and bias, as specified. Requires the OCR to engage with and seek advice from coordinators within the OCR on actions implemented by the OCR. Establishes the position of the Director of the OCR and subjects it to appointment from the Governor and confirmation by the Senate. (EC § 33801)
- Requires that a complaint alleging violations of the IDEA be investigated in an expeditious and effective manner in accordance with applicable federal law. (EC § 56500.2)
- Requires that a written decision be issued to the complainant in accordance with the 60-day time limit. (EC § 56500.2)
- Requires the party filing the complaint to forward a copy of the complaint to the LEA or public agency serving the child at the same time the party files the complaint with the CDE. (EC § 56500.2)
- Requires the SPI to develop a model form to assist parents and public agencies in filing a state complaint under this section. (EC § 56500.2)
- Requires the OCR, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of GovOps, to carry out several tasks including providing education and educational resources to identify and prevent antisemitism and other forms of discrimination and bias, and sharing relevant laws and regulations with educational state agencies, LEAs, and community stakeholders; annually submitting a report to GovOps, the SPI, the executive director of the State Board of Education (SBE), and the Legislature on the state of discrimination and bias in all LEAs, as specified; recommending strategies to combat discrimination or bias to CDE and LEAs, including proactive strategies using a restorative justice approach with a focus on repairing harm, fostering empathy, and healing relationships; reviewing reports from the CDE that include summaries of all complaints of discrimination filed pursuant to the UCP and advise on subsequent actions; providing assistance to the office of the Attorney General and the CDE on proper protocols to respond to discrimination complaints filed pursuant to the UCP. (EC § 33802)
- Establishes the position of the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, subject to appointment by the Governor and confirmation by the Senate. (EC § 33803.1)
- Requires the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE, and under the supervision of GovOps to carry out several tasks, including developing, consulting on, and providing antisemitism prevention education to teachers, staff, governing board or body members, administrators, and other LEA personnel to identify and proactively prevent antisemitism; make recommendations in coordination with the executive director of the SBE, to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of antisemitism in educational settings; engaging and advising on actions taken by the OCR on issues related to antisemitism and the Jewish community; tracking and reporting to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, and the SPI, complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions on complaints made pursuant to the UCP, as specified; and engaging with relevant community stakeholders in the execution of their duties. (EC § 33803.1)
- Requires the CDE, by October 1 each year, to issue a management bulletin to all LEAs describing protections and responsibilities regarding prohibitions against unlawful discrimination, as specified. (EC § 280)
- Requires the SPI, in consultation with the executive director of the SBE and the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, to develop and maintain a distinct internet web page containing resources and information specific to antisemitism on its internet website. (EC § 280)
- Establishes the position of the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and the LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator under the OCR, and subjects each position to appointment by the Governor and confirmation by the Senate. (EC § 33803.2-33803.5.)
ANALYSIS
This bill:
OCR
- Requires the OCR to provide resources and training on how to properly assist in cases of discrimination that involve the intersectionality of protected characteristics, as specified.
- States that the roles and responsibilities of the discrimination prevention coordinators established pursuant to this bill shall not be limited to their specific title or discrimination subject to allow for flexibility in their roles.
- Repeals placeholder language setting forth the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation to establish the coordinator roles proposed by this bill.
Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator
- Requires the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE and under the supervision of GovOps, to do the following:
- Develop, consult on, and provide religious discrimination related education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other LEA personnel to identify and proactively prevent religious discrimination.
- Provide technical assistance to LEAs to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
- Ensuring educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
- Creating a list of resources and identifying available training that LEAs may share with teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices for restorative justice made available by the CDE.
- Engage with LEAs, upon the request of the SPI, district superintendent, county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of an LEA, to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to religious discrimination.
- Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel. Training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
- Nondiscrimination laws.
- Trauma-informed restorative practices.
- Bullying prevention and response.
- Navigating politically charged environments.
- Implementing inclusive curriculum.
- Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, the SPI, complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to the UCP relating to religious discrimination in all local LEAs serving pupils in transitional kindergarten (TK), kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
- Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful religious discrimination.
- Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of religious discrimination in educational settings.
Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator
- Requires the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE and under the supervision of GovOps, to do the following:
- Develop, consult on, and provide race and ethnicity discrimination related education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other LEA personnel to identify and proactively prevent race and ethnicity discrimination.
- Provide technical assistance to LEAs to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
- Ensuring educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
- Creating a list of resources and identifying available trainings that LEAs may share with teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices for restorative justice made available by the CDE.
- Engage with LEAs, upon the request of the SPI, district superintendent, county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of an LEA, to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to race and ethnicity discrimination.
- Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel. Training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
- Nondiscrimination laws.
- Trauma-informed restorative practices.
- Bullying prevention and response.
- Navigating politically charged environments.
- Implementing inclusive curriculum.
- Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, the SPI, complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to the UCP relating to racial and ethnic discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils in TK, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
- Track and report complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions made pursuant to the UCP relating to anti-immigrant discrimination.
- Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful race and ethnicity discrimination.
- Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of racial and ethnic discrimination in educational settings.
Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism
- Requires the OCR to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
- Requires the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Black Racism, in addition to the requirements of #5 above, to do all of the following:
- Make recommendations to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Blackness-related incidents or educational disparities.
- Work with the leadership of the OCR to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Black pupils and LEA personnel.
- Annually report statistics on anti-Black racism against pupils and LEA personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Black racism at the root of the problem.
- Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Black racism within society and in educational settings.
- Engage with Black education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Black racism.
Deputy Coordinator on Anti-AAPI Discrimination
- Requires the OCR to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-AAPI Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
- Requires the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-AAPI Discrimination, in addition to the requirements of #5 above, to do all of the following:
- Make recommendations to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-AAPI-related incidents or educational disparities.
- Work with the leadership of the OCR to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support AAPI pupils and LEA personnel.
- Annually report statistics on anti-AAPI discrimination against pupils and LEA personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-AAPI discrimination at the root of the problem.
- Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-AAPI discrimination within society and in educational settings.
- Engage with AAPI education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-AAPI discrimination.
Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination
- Requires the OCR to employ a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, who shall report directly to the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
- Requires the Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Latino Discrimination, in addition to the requirements of #5 above, to do all of the following:
- Make recommendations to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of anti-Latino-related incidents or educational disparities.
- Work with the leadership of the OCR to develop a dedicated internet web page with resources and information accessible to support Latino pupils and LEA personnel.
- Annually report statistics on anti-Latino discrimination against pupils and LEA personnel with suggestions on how to prevent anti-Latino discrimination at the root of the problem.
- Provide information on available training courses that focus on the history and contemporary context of anti-Latino discrimination within society and in educational settings.
- Engage with Latino education-specific organizations when receiving feedback to address anti-Latino discrimination.
Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator
- Requires the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE and under the supervision of GovOps, to do the following:
- Develop, consult on, and provide gender discrimination related education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other LEA personnel to identify and proactively prevent gender discrimination.
- Provide technical assistance to LEAs to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
- Ensuring educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
- Creating a list of resources and identifying available trainings that LEAs may share with teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices for restorative justice made available by the CDE.
- Engage with LEAs, upon the request of the SPI, district superintendent, county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of an LEA, to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to gender discrimination.
- Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel. Training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
- Nondiscrimination laws.
- Trauma-informed restorative practices.
- Bullying prevention and response.
- Navigating politically charged environments.
- Implementing inclusive curriculum.
- Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, the SPI, complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to the UCP relating to gender discrimination in all local LEAs serving pupils TK, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
- Engage with relevant community stakeholders to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful gender discrimination.
- Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of gender discrimination in educational settings.
LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator
- Renames the position of the LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator.
- Requires the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE and under the supervision of GovOps, to do the following:
- Develop, consult on, and provide LGBTQ+ related discrimination education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other LEA personnel to identify and proactively prevent LGBTQ+ discrimination.
- Provide technical assistance to LEAs to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
- Ensure educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
- Creating a list of resources and identifying available trainings that LEAs may share with teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices for restorative justice made available by the CDE.
- Engage with LEAs, upon the request of the SPI, district superintendent, county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of an LEA, to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to LGBTQ+ discrimination.
- Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel. Training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
- Nondiscrimination laws.
- Trauma-informed restorative practices.
- Bullying prevention and response.
- Navigating politically charged environments.
- Implementing inclusive curriculum.
- Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, the SPI, complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to the UCP relating to LGBTQ+ discrimination in all local LEAs serving pupils TK, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
- Engage with relevant community stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community, organizations that support LGBTQ+ youth, LGBTQ+ parent groups, and organizations that support transgender, gender nonbinary, and intersex youth, to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful LGBTQ+ discrimination.
- Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of LGBTQ+ discrimination in educational settings.
Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator
- Establishes the position of the Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, subject to appointment by the Governor and confirmation by the Senate.
- Requires the Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, in consultation with the CDE and under the supervision of GovOps, to do the following:
- Develop, consult on, and provide disability discrimination related education to teachers, staff, governing board and body members, administrators, and other LEA personnel to identify and proactively prevent disability discrimination.
- Provide technical assistance to LEAs to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners by doing both of the following:
- Ensuring educators receive guidance and professional development recommendations to equip educators with the skills to navigate challenging conversations while fostering safe spaces for teaching and learning.
- Creating a list of resources and identifying available trainings that LEAs may share with teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel in their educator preparation programs, including, but not limited to, the best practices for restorative justice made available by the CDE.
- Engage with LEAs to ensure administrators are equipped to address conflicts at an early stage with the goal of proactively resolving incidents pertaining to disability discrimination.
- Provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel. Training courses may include, but not be limited to, any of the following topics:
- Nondiscrimination laws.
- Trauma-informed restorative practices.
- Bullying prevention and response.
- Navigating politically charged environments.
- Implementing inclusive curriculum.
- Beginning September 1, 2027, track and report to the Legislature, the executive director of the SBE, the SPI, complaints and resolutions or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to the UCP relating to disability discrimination in all LEAs serving pupils TK, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
- Engage with relevant community stakeholders, including, but not limited to, organizations that support the disability community, organizations that support pupils and youth with disabilities, organizations that support parents and guardians of pupils with disabilities and their families, to address high-priority issues in the prevention of unlawful disability discrimination.
- Make recommendations, in coordination with the executive director of the state board, to the Legislature on legislation necessary for the prevention of disability discrimination in educational settings.
STAFF COMMENTS
- Need for the bill. According to the author, “Last year, the Legislature passed SB 48 (Gonzalez/Weber/Fong/Ward), which created four discrimination prevention coordinators under the newly established Office of Civil Rights. My colleagues and I committed to working on subsequent legislation to clarify the role of each coordinator and create a Disability Discrimination Prevention coordinator based on stakeholder feedback. SB 998 builds on that commitment by establishing clear guidelines and expectations for the service coordinators to provide upon the request of the local educational agency to ensure that all student populations receive equal protection, proactive support services, and timely responses to discriminatory incidents. With the dismantling of the Federal Department of Education, the state must step up to foster a positive campus climate, deliver targeted support services for our student population, and address discrimination against any student in California schools.”
- Complaint process. This bill requires the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, the Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and the LGBTQ+ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator to track and annually report on complaints and resolutions, or lack of resolutions of complaints made pursuant to the UCP relating to the respective forms of discrimination in all local LEAs serving pupils TK, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12.
As prescribed by statute and regulations, each LEA has the primary responsibility to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations. Each LEA is required to investigate complaints alleging failure to comply with applicable state and federal laws and regulations and/or alleging discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, and seek to resolve those complaints.
A complaint through the UCP is a written and signed statement alleging a violation of federal or state laws or regulations, which may include an allegation of unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying.
Federal laws also require the CDE to adopt written procedures for the investigation and resolution of any state complaint alleging that a school district or public agency has violated IDEA.
This bill requires discrimination prevention coordinators within the OCR to annually track and report to the Legislature, the volume of complaints and resolutions, or lack of resolutions to complaints filed under the UCP. Importantly, while the OCR provides support on matters pertaining to discrimination-based complaints, the OCR itself, as well as the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator and Coordinator roles established and specified in this bill, are not intended to receive, investigate, or adjudicate formal complaints. Instead, those functions shall continue to follow the existing channels pursuant to the UCP.
- CDE Resources for Managing Conversations. In 2023, the Legislature passed AB 1078 (Jackson, Chapter 229, Statutes of 2023), requiring CDE to provide guidance to support school districts, COEs, charter schools, and school personnel in their managing of conversations about race and gender, as well as guidance on how to review instructional materials to ensure that they represent diverse perspectives and are culturally relevant. The resulting guidance is culminated in the AB 1078 Accurate and Inclusive Curriculum webpage, outlining California’s existing laws, policies, and resources related to creating safe and inclusive learning environments. Such resources include information on the following:
Asset-Based Pedagogies: Asset-based pedagogies view the diversity that students bring to the classroom, including culture, language, disability, socio-economic status, immigration status, and sexuality, as characteristics that add value and strength to classrooms and communities. Examples of such pedagogies include:
- Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy
- Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching
- Culturally Relevant Pedagogy
Creating Equitable Early Learning Environments for Young Boys of Color: Disrupting Disproportionate Outcomes: This resource was developed in collaboration between the CDE Early Education Division and the WestEd Center for Child and Family Studies as a resource to support early childhood educators in improving race equity within their classrooms and programs and disrupting the exclusionary disciplinary practices like suspensions, expulsions, and pushouts that disproportionately impact California’s youngest boys of color.
Transformative Social and Emotional Learning (T-SEL) Competencies: T-SEL Competencies describe the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and capacities that children and young people can develop when the conditions are supportive to their healthy, whole development. These guidance tools aim to build on and respond to the call from California’s diverse stakeholders to embed equity-focused T-SEL in every learning and teaching context across the education system.
- Antibias Education Grant Program. In the 2021–22 and 2022–23 State Budgets, the Legislature appropriated a total of $20 million to the SPI to establish the Antibias Education Grant Program— funding training and resources to prevent and address bias or prejudice toward any group of people based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, immigration status, language, or any actual or perceived characteristic listed in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code. The statute placed emphasis on preventing antisemitism and bias or prejudice toward groups, including, but not limited to, African Americans, Asian-Pacific Islanders, Latinos, and people who are LGBTQ youth.
Across the two cohorts, 104 LEA grantees received award amounts ranging from $75,000 to $392,235. Notable grantee proposals include:
Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) – proposing to address issues of racial bias against students, families, and staff and other prejudices within the school environment, with intended outcomes that include reducing instances of harassment on school sites; increasing positive school climate; increasing student access to culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogy practices and increase access to culturally relevant materials; launching lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual plus (LGBTQIA+) inclusive clubs and campaigns for student leadership; drafting a comprehensive diversity plan; and improving organizational climate with a focus on increased experience of belonging among linguistically and religiously diverse Black/African American and LGBTQIA+ staff as measured by an annual equity survey and focus groups.
Nevada Joint Union High School District – proposing to adopt a systematic, long-term plan for regular professional development with a renowned agency, passionate about improving school culture. Simultaneously creating systems within classrooms to acknowledge individuality daily, as well as looking to more restorative practices for discipline.
Newark Unified School District – proposing to fund research-based Empathic Instruction modules for approximately 250 TK–12 staff, secondary restorative justice student leadership program development, and community outreach for ongoing district antibias, equity work.
Palm Springs Unified School District – proposing to accelerate its Conscious Education antibias training for all district staff, create a Diversity and Equity Steering Committee to develop a district Equity Plan and act as an advisory group, and continue work with equity consultants to refine Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion related practices.
- The Safe and Supportive Schools Act. In 2023, the Legislature passed AB 5 (Zbur, Chapter 220, Statutes of 2023), which (1) required CDE to complete the development of an online training curriculum and delivery platform to provide training on cultural competency in supporting LGBTQ students; and (2) requires, LEAs serving students in grades 7-12 to provide and require at least one hour of training annually to all certificated staff, beginning with the 2025-26 school year through the 2029-30 school year.
Using a budget allocation of $770,000 for this purpose, CDE partnered with LACOE to develop the Providing Relevant Inclusive Support that Matters for LGBTQ+ Students (PRISM) program. PRISM is a free six-course online training program with content targeted to certificated educators to provide resources to bolster support for LGBTQ+ youth in California. The training curriculum includes information on 12 statutorily required topics, including the creation of safe and supportive learning environments for LGBTQ+ pupils; the importance of identifying local physical and mental health providers with experience in treating and supporting LGBTQ+ youth; requirements regarding school antibullying and harassment policies, and complaint procedures; and requirements regarding suicide prevention policies and related procedures.
PRISM is available to all teachers and other certificated staff serving pupils in grades 7-12 as of July 1, 2025.
- California Teachers Collaborative for Holocaust and Genocide Education (Collaborative). California has made significant investments to support educators in their efforts to teach about the sensitive topics of the Holocaust and genocide. For instance, the Collaborative was established in 2021 as a statewide professional development program on genocide for school district, COE, and charter school teachers. The Collaborative was initially created by the Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) Holocaust Center in San Francisco with support from the CDE, Marin COE, and the State of California, and was later codified with passage of SB 1277 (Stern, Chapter 890, Statutes of 2024). The Collaborative also works in close collaboration with the Governor’s Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education. The Collaborative received a state budget allocation of $1.9 million in its first year and, in subsequent years, has received additional allocations of $1.5 million (2023-24 State Budget) and $5 million (2024-25 State Budget). The Collaborative’s goals include:
- Creating new, standards-aligned lessons on the Holocaust and genocide for all 6-12th grade students in California;
- Empowering and unifying educators in teaching the lessons of history and about what happens when bias goes unchecked; and
- Combatting rising antisemitism and hate by creating more respectful and empathetic next generations.
In 2024, the Collaborative launched a website to serve as a central location to connect educators with digital resources including best practices and curricular materials, and information about workshops, trainings, and conferences.
- Slight differences between the newly articulated coordinator positions and the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator. While most of the new roles and responsibilities for the respective Discrimination Prevention Coordinators outlined in this bill align cleanly with those of the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, there are a few areas that speak more to authorizations articulated for the OCR as a whole rather than a particular coordinator. These include:
- Explicit authorization for the newly outlined coordinators to provide technical assistance to LEAs to access restorative justice resources, training, and practitioners--upon the request of the SPI, a school district superintendent, a county superintendent of schools, or the governing board or body of an LEA.
- Explicit authorization for the newly outlined coordinators to provide information on training courses on cultural competency and positive school climate to teachers, administrators, and LEA personnel.
Should the bill move forward, the authors may wish to consider if these changes would ultimately require a revisiting of the roles of the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, or if it would make more sense to centralize the responsibilities to the OCR as a whole.
- Prior and related legislation.
AB 715 (Zbur, Chapter 428, Statutes of 2025) (1) establishes the OCR under the administration of GovOps and the position of Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator within OCR; (2) requires LEAs that know or have reason to know that instructional or professional development materials were used that violate existing anti-discrimination laws to investigate and remediate the action; (3) requires instruction and instructional materials to be factually accurate, align with the adopted curriculum and existing standards for instructional materials, and be consistent with accepted standards of professional responsibility; (4) authorizes the CDE to require specified corrective action be taken by LEAs; and, (5) requires specified corrective action be taken by organizations contracted to provide instructional or professional development materials if those materials are found to violate specified provisions of this bill.
SB 48 (Gonzalez, Chapter 429, Statutes of 2025) requires the OCR under GovOps to employ a Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Race and Ethnicity Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, a Gender Discrimination Prevention Coordinator, and an LGBTQ Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. Requires that these positions all be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
SB 1421 (Stern, 2024) would have required the CDE to establish the OCR within the CDE to receive and investigate complaints reported through the UCP that allege unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying; to assume the CDE’s duties as it pertains to these complaints; and to develop procedures to optimize complaint reporting and response. SB 1421 was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
AB 1078 (Jackson, Chapter 229, Statutes of 2023), among other things, requires the CDE to issue guidance related to how to help school districts, COEs, charter schools, and school personnel manage conversations about race and gender, and how to review instructional materials to ensure that they represent diverse perspectives and are culturally relevant.
AB 1327 (Weber, Chapter 366, Statutes of 2023) requires the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) to report to the Legislature every three years on instances of racial discrimination or harassment, and requires the CIF to develop, in consultation with community organizations that represent the interests of ethnic groups and communities of color, a standardized incident form to track instances of racial discrimination or harassment that occur at high school sporting games or sporting events, and annually post those results on the CIF website.
SB 857 (Laird, Chapter 228, Statutes of 2023) requires the SPI, on or before July 1, 2024, to convene an advisory task force to identify the statewide needs of LGBTQ students and report its findings to the Legislature, the SPI, and the Governor by January 1, 2026.
AB 493 (Gloria, Chapter 775, Statutes of 2019) requires that, no later than July 1, 2021, the CDE develop resources or update existing resources for in-service training on schoolsite and community resources for the support of LGBTQ students, for use in LEAs, including charter schools serving students in grades 7-12. Requires the CDE to periodically provide online training on this topic that can be accessed on a statewide basis.
SUPPORT
California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus
Disability Rights California
Equality California
OPPOSITION
None received
-- END --
Discussed in Hearing
2MIN
Senate Floor
5MIN
Assembly Floor
4MIN
Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations
4MIN
Assembly Standing Committee on Judiciary
18MIN
Assembly Standing Committee on Education
2MIN
Senate Floor
13MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
36MIN
