BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 514 Page 1 D ate of Hearing: May 15, 2013 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair AB 514 (Bonta) - As Amended: May 6, 2013 Policy Committee: Education Vote:7-0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No SUMMARY This bill establishes the Safe Schools for Safe Learning Act of 2013, which requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), as part of an existing requirement, to post a list of statewide resources for youth who have been affected by gangs, gun violence, and psychological trauma caused by violence at home and at school. FISCAL EFFECT One-time, GF administrative costs, likely less than $50,000, to the State Department of Education (SDE) to meet the requirements of this measure. COMMENTS 1)Background . AB 394 (Levine), Chapter 566, Statutes of 2007, established the Safe Place to Learn Act (SPLA) and required SDE to monitor local education agency (LEAs) adherence to antidiscrimination and antiharassment policies. Specifically, statute requires SDE, as part of its Categorical Program Monitoring process, to assess whether LEAs have met specifies requirements that are meant to enforce these policies, including publicizing the policies and establishing a complaint process, as specified. The SPLA also required SDE to display information on curricula and other resources that specifically address bias-related discrimination and harassment, as specified under current law (including, but not limited to, actual or perceived gender identity and sexual orientation). The department has a AB 514 Page 2 diverse list of these resources displayed on its Internet website. This bill proposes to add to this requirement by requiring the department to include information about violence and psychological trauma. 2)Purpose . According to the author, this bill is a result of his ought-to-be-a-law contest in which he asked youth in his district - "What would make you feel safer at school?" Specifically, the author states: "20% of California children with family incomes below $25,000 feel unsafe in their neighborhoods, compared to just 1.6% of California children with family incomes above $125,000 (Kidsdata.org). Though many youth feel that violence is inevitable, all data show that our schools remain the safest place for children (NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.). This bill requires the SPI, as part of an existing requirement, to post a list of statewide resources for youth who have been affected by gangs, gun violence, and psychological trauma caused by violence at home and at school. 3)Previous related legislation . AB 9 (Ammiano), Chapter 723, Statutes of 2011, amended the SPLA to add anti-intimidation and anti-bullying provisions, as specified. Analysis Prepared by : Kimberly Rodriguez / APPR. / (916) 319-2081