BILL ANALYSIS Ó
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1435|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 1435
Author: Jackson (D), et al.
Amended: 4/6/16
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 8-0, 3/30/16
AYES: Liu, Block, Huff, Leyva, Mendoza, Monning, Pan, Vidak
NO VOTE RECORDED: Hancock
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 5-1, 5/27/16
AYES: Lara, Beall, Hill, McGuire, Mendoza
NOES: Nielsen
NO VOTE RECORDED: Bates
SUBJECT: School curriculum: health framework: healthy
relationships
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This bill requires the next revision to the Health
framework to include comprehensive information, for grades K-8,
on the development of healthy relationships.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Requires the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to
consider including in the next revision of the Health
SB 1435
Page 2
framework:
a) Comprehensive information for grades 9-12 on sexual
harassment and violence. (Education Code § 33544)
b) A distinct category on sexual abuse and sex trafficking
prevention education that includes, among other things, a
discussion of healthy boundaries for relationships, how to
recognize potentially harmful and abusive relationships,
and refusal skills to overcome peer pressure and to avoid
high-risk activities. (EC § 33545)
2)Requires schools to provide comprehensive sexual health
education in grades 7-12, and states that the purpose of this
instruction, among other things, is to:
a) Provide students with the knowledge and skills they need
to develop healthy attitudes concerning adolescent growth
and development, body image, gender, sexual orientation,
relationships, marriage, and family.
b) Provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary
to have healthy, positive, and safe relationships and
behaviors. (EC § 51930)
3)Requires all comprehensive sexual health education to meet
specified criteria, including:
a) Instruction and materials shall teach the value of and
prepare students to have and maintain committed
relationships such as marriage.
b) Instruction and materials shall provide students with
knowledge and skills they need to form healthy
relationships that are based on mutual respect and
affection, and are free from violence, coercion, and
SB 1435
Page 3
intimidation. (EC § 51933)
This bill:
1)Requires the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to include
comprehensive information, for kindergarten and grades 1-8, on
the development of healthy relationships in the next revision
to the Health framework after January 1, 2017.
2)Requires the information to be age and developmentally
appropriate.
3)Requires the IQC to comply with both of the following when
including information on the development of healthy
relationships in the Health framework:
a) Ensure information is research-based and appropriate for
students of all races, genders, sexual orientations, gender
identities, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds. This bill
specifically authorizes the IQC to review other states'
curricula.
b) Consult with secondary health teachers and experts in
sexual harassment and violence curriculum.
Comments
Healthy relationships. This bill does not define "healthy
relationships" or include parameters, such as healthy dating
relationships. The purpose of this bill is to address all types
of relationships.
Existing law requires the IQC to consider including in the next
revision of the Health framework information relative to healthy
SB 1435
Page 4
boundaries for relationships, how to recognize potentially
harmful and abusive relationships, and refusal skills to
overcome peer pressure and to avoid high-risk activities. That
information is to be included in a distinct category on sexual
abuse and sex trafficking prevention. This bill focuses on
information that is to be separate and apart from the distinct
category on sexual abuse and sex trafficking prevention, from
information for grades 9-12 on sexual harassment and violence,
and from comprehensive sexual health education.
Health framework. The 2003 Health framework is outdated and no
longer current. It does not reflect the Health Education
Content Standards adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE)
in March 2008. The Health framework was scheduled for revision
in 2009-10, with adoption expected in 2011. Statute was enacted
on July 28, 2009 that halted the revision process due to severe
budget constraints. According to the California Department of
Education's Web site, their planning timeline provides for the
next revision of the Health framework to begin in September
2016, with adoption by the SBE estimated in May 2019.
The Health standards and framework currently include limited
references to healthy relationships. Specifically, instruction
in grades 9-12 is to include discussion of the characteristics
of healthy relationships, dating, committed relationships, and
marriage; instruction in grades 7-8 is to use a decision-making
process to examine risky social and dating situations, and apply
a decision-making process to avoid potentially dangerous
situations, such as violence in dating; instruction in grades
4-6 is to help students understand and demonstrate how to
promote positive health practices within the school and
community, including how to cultivate positive relationships
with their peers. This bill applies to the Health framework for
kindergarten and grades 1-8.
Different approach. This bill requires the IQC to include
specific information in the next revision of the Health
framework. The Senate Education Committee has passed numerous
bills related to adding specified information or instruction to
the various curricular frameworks; all prior measures have
required the IQC to consider including specified information.
SB 1435
Page 5
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:YesLocal: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, the California
Department of Education estimates costs of about $74,000 for the
IQC to contract with at least two experts in sexual harassment
and violence curriculum as required by this bill. (General
Fund)
SUPPORT: (Verified5/27/16)
None received
OPPOSITION: (Verified5/27/16)
None received
Prepared by:Lynn Lorber / ED. / (916) 651-4105
5/28/16 17:08:40
**** END ****