BILL NUMBER: AB 1289	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Cooper

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2015

   An act to amend Section 49350 of the Education Code, relating to
pupil safety.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1289, as introduced, Cooper. Pupil safety: Community Policing
and Mentoring for School Safety Pilot Program.
   Existing law establishes the Community Policing and Mentoring for
School Safety Pilot Program under the administration of the State
Department of Education in order to ensure that pupils enrolled in
California public schools attend campuses that are safe, secure, and
orderly, and are places in which pupils and staff are free to learn
and teach without the threat of physical or psychological harm.
Existing law makes a statement of legislative findings and
declarations relating to the pilot program.
   This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to that statement.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 49350 of the Education Code is amended to read:

   49350.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (1) Studies have shown that indicators of risk for violence are
associated with a child's experiences at school. Antisocial behavior
or aggressiveness, which is sometimes combined with isolation,
withdrawal, hyperactivity, or attention deficit disorder, places
children at  an  increased risk of violence.
   (2) These children are at risk of persistent antisocial behavior,
such as skipping school, getting into fights, and misbehaving in
class. Young people of both genders who engage in these activities
are at increased risk of experiencing drug abuse, juvenile
delinquency, violence, dropping out of school, and teen pregnancy.
   (3) It is well-known that some youth, even though exposed to
multiple risk factors, do not succumb to violent, antisocial
behavior. One of the defining factors for this outcome is
bonding--positive relationships with family members, teachers, police
officers, sheriffs' deputies, and other adults.
   (4) The Community Policing and Mentoring for School Safety Pilot
Program brings this successful law enforcement strategy to California'
s schools. By providing funding assistance, strict participation
 guidelines   guidelines,  and assessments,
the Community Policing and Mentoring for School Safety Pilot Program
will bring highly trained law enforcement officers onto school
campuses to work with  students   pupils 
during and after school. Community policing in schools will provide
the necessary opportunities for  students'  
pupils'  active involvement in positive activities, as well as
trained personnel to teach them skills so that they may pursue later
opportunities successfully. Community policing in schools provides a
consistent system of recognition and reinforcement of positive
behavior.
   (5) Many school safety approaches, including metal detectors,
drug-sniffing dogs, armed private security personnel, and similar
security measures, are more one-dimensional in their approach to
school safety. The Community Policing and Mentoring for School Safety
Pilot Program takes a multidimensional approach by involving the
community, schools, parents or guardians, and law enforcement
personnel in the design of the program that will serve their schools.
The relationships developed, as a result of this process and the
programs themselves, will be a strong preventative alternative to
antisocial behavior in California's schools.
   (b) As used in this article, "community policing" means an
approach to crime prevention that is founded on developing positive
relationships between law enforcement and the community. In community
policing, law enforcement becomes an integral facet of the community
because officers work directly with the community and develop
positive relationships with members of the community. Community
members become more involved in their community's activities because
they know they have the personal support of law enforcement.
Community policing identifies factors that put young people at risk
for violence in order to reduce or eliminate these factors and
strengthen protective factors such as positive relationships with
adults.