Amended in Assembly May 6, 2013

Amended in Assembly March 19, 2013

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 514


Introduced by Assembly Member Bonta

February 20, 2013


An act to amend Section 234.5 of the Education Code, relating to school safety.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 514, as amended, Bonta. The Safe 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.

This 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 traumabegin insert caused by violence at home and at schoolend insert. The bill would express various findings and declarations of the Legislature relating to school safety.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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SECTION 1.  

This act shall be known as the Safe Schools for
2Safe Learning Act of 2013.

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SEC. 2.  

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

4(a) Child safety should be a priority in our state, and we, as the
5state Legislature, should ensure that our children are kept safe from
6any form of violence, especially while children are in school.

7(b) Our children have the talent and capacity for greatness, if
8given the opportunity to thrive and grow in a healthy environment.

9(c) Unfortunately, violence has become a fact of life for many
10pupils in the 18th Assembly Districtbegin insert and throughout the stateend insert. For
11example, Oakland suffered from 131 homicides in 2012. Many
12children suffer complications from growing up in a violent
13environment, including depression and post-traumatic stress
14disorder, which makes it more difficult to become an engaged and
15productive 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.

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SEC. 3.  

Section 234.5 of the Education Code is amended to
26read:

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234.5.  

The Superintendent shall post, and annually update, on
28his or her Internet Web site and provide to each school district a
29list of statewide resources, including community-based
30organizations, that provide support to youth who have been
31subjected to school-based discrimination, harassment, intimidation,
32or bullying, and their families. The Superintendent’s Internet Web
33site shall also include a list of statewide resources for youth who
34have been affected by gangs, gun violence, and psychological
35traumabegin insert caused by violence at home and at schoolend insert.



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