Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that establishes protections for students against school employee misconduct in California.

Highlights:

• Requires a comprehensive school safety plan to include procedures for child abuse or neglect reporting and protecting children from abuse, neglect, or sex offenses (Sec. 4).

• Provides a more in-depth definition and classification of what a sex offense is (Sec. 5).

• Requires school districts to request misconduct records of prospective employees from school districts that the employee previously worked for (Sec. 6).

• Requires the establishment of a database containing information on all investigations and actions taken against public and private school employees (Sec. 7).

• Requires all allegations or omissions of misconduct to be reported to the committee for licensing credentials (Sec. 8).

• Requires the State Department of Education to issue guidance about how to handle cases of child abuse and the role of the mandated reporter to each school district (Sec. 9).

• Prohibits individuals who have been convicted of a violent or serious felony or a sex offense from being employed by a school district in a position that requires certification (Sec. 11).

• Prohibits school districts from entering into agreements that would inhibit the reporting of misconduct (Sec. 12).

• Authorizes school districts to provide abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking education (Sec. 13).

• Establishes an updated definition for mandated reporter (Sec. 14).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that establishes protections for students against school employee misconduct in California.

Highlights:

• Requires a comprehensive school safety plan to include procedures for child abuse or neglect reporting and protecting children from abuse, neglect, or sex offenses (Sec. 4).

• Provides a more in-depth definition and classification of what a sex offense is (Sec. 5).

• Requires school districts to request misconduct records of prospective employees from school districts that the employee previously worked for (Sec. 6).

• Requires the establishment of a database containing information on all investigations and actions taken against public and private school employees (Sec. 7).

• Requires all allegations or omissions of misconduct to be reported to the committee for licensing credentials (Sec. 8).

• Requires the State Department of Education to issue guidance about how to handle cases of child abuse and the role of the mandated reporter to each school district (Sec. 9).

• Prohibits individuals who have been convicted of a violent or serious felony or a sex offense from being employed by a school district in a position that requires certification (Sec. 11).

• Prohibits school districts from entering into agreements that would inhibit the reporting of misconduct (Sec. 12).

• Authorizes school districts to provide abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking education (Sec. 13).

• Establishes an updated definition for mandated reporter (Sec. 14).

Full Bill Text