AB 514, as introduced, Bonta. School safety: the Safe Schools for Safe Learning Act of 2013.
Existing law establishes various laws relating to school safety and violence prevention, and, among other things, requires each school district and county office of education to develop a comprehensive school safety plan for schools operating kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
This bill would express the Legislature’s intent to enact legislation that would be known as the Safe Schools for Safe Learning Act of 2013, which would give pupils from the 18th Assembly District a strong voice in developing new strategies for school safety. The bill would also express various findings and declarations of the Legislature relating to school safety.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
The Legislature finds and declares all of the
2following:
P2 1(a) Child safety should be a priority in our state, and we, as the
2state Legislature, should ensure that our children are kept safe from
3any form of violence, especially while children are in school.
4(b) Our children have the talent and capacity for greatness, if
5given the opportunity to thrive and grow in a healthy environment.
6(c) Unfortunately, violence has become a fact of life for many
7pupils in the 18th Assembly District. For example, Oakland
8suffered from 131 homicides in 2012. Many children suffer
9complications from growing up in a violent
environment, including
10depression and posttraumatic stress disorder, which makes it more
11difficult to become an engaged and productive pupil at school.
12(d) Assembly Member Bonta has asked pupils to submit their
13responses to the question, “What would make you feel safer at
14school?” The Safe Schools for Safe Learning Act of 2013 will be
15based on the winning response to that question.
16(e) We need to create safe and supportive school environments
17where each child is able to thrive. A school is not just a place for
18perfunctory instruction. It is also the place where a child learns
19about humanity, family, and community, free from violence and
20fear.
It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation
22that would be known as the Safe Schools for Safe Learning Act
23of 2013, which would give pupils from the 18th Assembly District
24a strong voice in developing new strategies for school safety.
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