BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 2732 Page 1 GOVERNOR'S VETO AB 2732 (Chang and Low) As Enrolled August 31, 2016 2/3 vote -------------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |79-0 |(May 5, 2016) |SENATE: |38-0 |(August 16, | | | | | | |2016) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |79-0 |(August 23, | | | | | | |2016) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------- Original Committee Reference: HIGHER ED. SUMMARY: Requires the California State University (CSU) Trustees and requests the University of California (UC) Regents, to provide, as part of established campus orientations, educational and preventive information about cyberbullying to students at all campuses of their respective segments. AB 2732 Page 2 The Senate amendments make minor technical changes and add co-authors. EXISTING LAW: 1)Stipulates the policy of the State of California, as specified, that all persons, regardless of their sex, should enjoy freedom from discrimination of any kind in the postsecondary educational institution of the state; and, that students shall be provided notification of the prohibition against sexual harassment as a form of sexual discrimination and to provided notification of available remedies (Education Code Section (EDC) 66281.5). 2)Requires the governing board of each community college district and the CSU Trustees, and request the UC Regents to, in collaboration with campus-based and community-based victim advocacy organizations, provide, as part of established campus orientations, educational and preventive information about sexual violence to students at all campuses of their respective segments; and, specifies that for a campus with an existing on-campus orientation program, this information shall be provided, in addition to the sexual harassment information required to be provided, as specified, during the regular orientation for incoming students (EDC 67385.7). FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs. COMMENTS: Background. According to a February 2015 report, by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, entitled, "Cyberbullying, depression, and problem alcohol use in female college students: a multisite study," found that cyberbullying AB 2732 Page 3 and its effects have been studied largely in middle and high school students, but less is known about cyberbullying in college students. The researchers performed a cross-sectional study investigating the relationship between involvement in cyberbullying and depression or problem alcohol use among college females. The study found that college-age females are just as likely to suffer the negative effects of cyberbullying as younger adolescents. Additionally, based on information provided by the author, with college confession pages and apps that allow anonymous posting, cyberbullying is gaining momentum without people even realizing it because it has been glorified; in certain contexts, it is used as entertainment. Furthermore, cyberbullying has been linked to a markedly increased risk for depression and alcohol use in college students. Need for the measure. According to the author, cyberbullying has been linked to suicide, alcoholism, and depression in college students. The author states, "Students are already undergoing a tremendous transition as they have just entered into adulthood, and many are away from home for the first time." The author argues that college-aged students should receive training on cyberbullying while they attend a UC or CSU. This measure will equip students with preventative information should they find themselves in a harmful cyberbullying situation. Additionally, this measure provides that students are aware of their options by including educational information about cyberbullying during campus orientation. Current practices of the UC and CSU. The UC and CSU continue to provide in-depth orientation for students in sexual harassment and assault, but presently, Committee staff understands that most of the campuses do not currently provide information AB 2732 Page 4 regarding cyberbullying during their orientation for students. Efforts in other states. The State of New Jersey has passed legislation that adds cyberbullying to the definition of harassment, intimidation or bullying and providing notice to students at their postsecondary institutions of higher learning. Additionally, there is federal movement to provide more guidance to college-aged students regarding cyberbullying and its negative effects. GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE: This bill would require the California State University Trustees to provide educational and preventative information about cyberbullying to students, as part of campus orientations, and request the Regents of the University of California to do the same. There is little doubt that the proliferation of technology has generated new concerns and new forms of bullying and harassment. State law, however, already requires governing boards of public postsecondary institutions to adopt and publish policies on harassment and bullying. It is common sense for institutions to include the most current and relevant issues in these policies and educate students during orientation. I believe that cyberbullying and other pertinent issues can be adequately covered without an additional specification in law. AB 2732 Page 5 Analysis Prepared by: Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960 FN: 0005084