AB 514,
as amended, Bonta. begin deleteSchool safety: the end deletebegin insertThe end insertSafe Schools for Safe Learning Act of 2013.
Existing law establishes the Safe Place to Learn Act and, among other things, requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to post on his or her Internet Web site a list of statewide resources that provide support to youth who have been subjected to school-based discrimination, harassment, or bullying, and their families.
end insertbegin insertThis bill, the Safe Schools for Safe Learning Act of 2013, would require the Superintendent to post on the Superintendent’s Internet Web site a list of statewide resources for youth who have been affected by gangs, gun violence, and psychological trauma. The bill would express various findings and declarations of the Legislature relating to school safety.
end insertExisting 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.
end deleteThis 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.
end deleteVote: majority.
Appropriation: no.
Fiscal committee: begin deleteno end deletebegin insertyesend insert.
State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
begin insertThis act shall be known as the Safe Schools for
2Safe Learning Act of 2013.end insert
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
5(a) Child safety should be a priority in our state, and we, as the
6state Legislature, should ensure that our children are kept safe from
7any form of violence, especially while children are in school.
8(b) Our children have the talent and capacity for greatness, if
9given the opportunity to thrive and grow in a healthy environment.
10(c) Unfortunately, violence
has become a fact of life for many
11pupils in the 18th Assembly District. For example, Oakland
12suffered from 131 homicides in 2012. Many children suffer
13complications from growing up in a violent environment, including
14depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, which makes it more
15difficult to become an engaged and productive pupil at school.
16(d) Assembly Member Bonta has asked pupils to submit their
17responses to the question, “What would make you feel safer at
18school?” The Safe Schools for Safe Learning Act of 2013 will be
19based on the winning response to that question.
20(e) We need to create safe and supportive school environments
21where each child is able to thrive. A school is not just a place for
22perfunctory instruction. It is also the place where a child learns
23about humanity, family, and community, free from violence and
24fear.
It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation
26that would be known as the Safe Schools for Safe Learning Act
27of 2013, which would give pupils from the 18th Assembly District
28a strong voice in developing new strategies for school safety.
begin insertSection 234.5 of the end insertbegin insertEducation
Codeend insertbegin insert is amended to
30read:end insert
The Superintendent shall post, and annually update, on
2his or her Internet Web site and provide to each school district a
3list of statewide resources, including community-based
4organizations, that provide support to youth who have been
5subjected to school-based discrimination, harassment, intimidation,
6or bullying, and their familiesbegin insert. The Superintendent’s Internet Web
7site shall also include a list of statewide resources for youth who
8have been affected by gangs, gun violence, and psychological
9traumaend insert.
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