BILL NUMBER: AB 746 CHAPTERED BILL TEXT CHAPTER 72 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JULY 8, 2011 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR JULY 7, 2011 PASSED THE SENATE JUNE 23, 2011 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY APRIL 14, 2011 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 7, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Campos (Coauthors: Assembly Members Ammiano, Eng, and Mendoza) FEBRUARY 17, 2011 An act to amend Section 32261 of the Education Code, relating to pupils. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 746, Campos. Pupils: cyber bullying. Existing law, the Interagency School Safety Demonstration Act of 1985, defines bullying as one or more acts of sexual harassment, hate violence, or intentional harassment, threats, or intimidation, directed against school district personnel or pupils, committed by a pupil or group of pupils. Under existing law, bullying, including bullying committed by means of an electronic act, as defined, is a ground on which suspension or expulsion may be based. This bill would specify that an electronic act for purposes of the act includes a post on a social network Internet Web site. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 32261 of the Education Code is amended to read: 32261. (a) The Legislature hereby recognizes that all pupils enrolled in the state public schools have the inalienable right to attend classes on school campuses that are safe, secure, and peaceful. The Legislature also recognizes that pupils cannot fully benefit from an educational program unless they attend school on a regular basis. In addition, the Legislature further recognizes that school crime, vandalism, truancy, and excessive absenteeism are significant problems on far too many school campuses in the state. (b) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the establishment of an interagency coordination system is the most efficient and long-lasting means of resolving school and community problems of truancy and crime, including vandalism, drug and alcohol abuse, gang membership, gang violence, and hate crimes. (c) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to support California public schools as they develop their mandated comprehensive safety plans that are the result of a systematic planning process, that include strategies aimed at the prevention of, and education about, potential incidents involving crime and violence on school campuses, and that address the safety concerns of local law enforcement agencies, community leaders, parents, pupils, teachers, administrators, school police, and other school employees interested in the prevention of school crime and violence. (d) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to encourage school districts, county offices of education, law enforcement agencies, and agencies serving youth to develop and implement interagency strategies, in-service training programs, and activities that will improve school attendance and reduce school crime and violence, including vandalism, drug and alcohol abuse, gang membership, gang violence, hate crimes, bullying, including bullying committed personally or by means of an electronic act, which includes the posting of messages on a social network Internet Web site, teen relationship violence, and discrimination and harassment, including, but not necessarily limited to, sexual harassment. (e) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter that the School/Law Enforcement Partnership shall not duplicate any existing gang or drug and alcohol abuse program currently provided for schools. (f) As used in this chapter, "bullying" means one or more acts by a pupil or group of pupils as defined in Section 48900.2, 48900.3, or 48900.4. (g) As used in this chapter, an "electronic act" means the transmission of a communication, including, but not necessarily limited to, a message, text, sound, or image, or a post on a social network Internet Web site, by means of an electronic device, including, but not necessarily limited to, a telephone, wireless telephone or other wireless communication device, computer, or pager.