BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 231|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 231
Author: Correa (D), et al.
Amended: 5/28/13
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 9-0, 05/01/13
AYES: Liu, Wyland, Block, Correa, Hancock, Hueso, Huff,
Jackson, Monning
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 7-0, 05/23/13
AYES: De Le�n, Walters, Gaines, Hill, Lara, Padilla, Steinberg
SUBJECT : California Bullying Prevention Coordinating Center
SOURCE : B.R.A.V.E. Society
Peace Builders
The Help Group
UNITED SIKHS
DIGEST : This bill establishes the California Bullying
Prevention Coordinating Center (Coordinating Center), to be
administered by the California Department of Education (CDE).
This bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction
(SPI) to appoint members to a Coordinating Center Advisory
Council (Council), as specified. This bill requires CDE to
recommend to school districts appropriate guidelines, best
practices, and information that school districts may disseminate
to pupils and their families about the existence, goals, and
objectives of the Coordinating Center, as specified.
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ANALYSIS : Existing law defines "bullying" as any severe or
pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including
communications made in writing or by means of an electronic act,
and including one or more acts committed by a student or group
of students directed toward one or more students that has or can
be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the
following:
1. Placing a reasonable student or students in fear of harm to
that student or those students' person or property.
2. Causing a reasonable student to experience a substantially
detrimental effect on his/her physical or mental health.
3. Causing a reasonable student to experience substantial
interference with his or her ability to participate in or
benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided
by a school.
Various resources are available to schools regarding policies,
best practices and resources regarding the prevention of
bullying. The Web site of the CDE contains links to much of
this information but does not appear to include a hotline for
students.
The Student Mental Health Initiative of the Department of Health
Care Services is a grant program for K-12 schools and
institutions of higher education to develop a comprehensive
system of mental health services and supports.
This bill:
1. Enacts the Michael Joseph Berry Peer Abuse Prevention and
Awareness Act of 2013.
2. Establishes the Coordinating Center, to be administered by
the CDE.
3. Requires the SPI to appoint members to a Council, which
includes individuals who have experience in specified areas,
including, among other, hotline telephone services, social
media, and behavioral health services.
4. Requires CDE to recommend to school districts appropriate
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guidelines, best practices, and information that school
districts may disseminate to pupils and their families about
the existence, goals, and objectives of the Coordinating
Center, as specified.
5. Provides that its operation in any fiscal year is contingent
upon the certification by the SPI that sufficient funding is
available for the implementation of this bill in that fiscal
year, and prohibits the use of General Fund monies to
implement this bill.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
Center coordination/administration: One-time staff costs of
approximately $170,000 to establish the Coordinating Center,
and potentially significant ongoing costs to administer the
Coordinating Center, depending on the level of support
provided and the extent of activities undertaken.
Coordinating Center: Potentially significant CDE workload to
staff the Council, depending on its composition, activities,
and frequency of convening.
SUPPORT : (Verified 6/3/13)
B.R.A.V.E. Society (co-source)
Peace Builders (co-source)
The Help Group (co-source)
UNITED SIKHS (co-source)
American Association of University Women
American Civil Liberties Union
Anaheim Union High School District
California Federation of Teachers
California Teachers Association
Junior League of Orange County, California, Inc.
National Association of Social Workers
Sacramento LGBT Youth Task Force
The Center for Violence Free Relationships
The Luke Robert South Foundation
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ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author, "Bullying is a
form of mistreatment and victimization that involves any
combination of physical, verbal and/or psychological abuse.
Bullying is a serious problem in K-12 schools that impacts the
academic performance and the self-esteem of all students. Poor
academic performance and a devastating array of psychological
problems have severe consequences of bullying, on both the
victims and perpetrators. Long-term consequences of bullying
have been linked to an array of disorders that include criminal
behaviors, substance abuse, and numerous mental health
problems."
PQ:d 6/3/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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