BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1373
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 4, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 1373 (Fong) - As Amended: April 28, 2011
Policy Committee: Education
Vote:8-2
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill authorizes a school districts or county office of
education (COE) to provide education programs to promote healthy
relationships and prevent teen dating violence to pupils in
grades 7-12, through curricular, extracurricular, and school
climate-improvement activities. Specifically, this bill:
1)Authorizes school district or COE to work in partnership with
parents, caregivers, domestic violence agencies, and other
organizations to provide these programs.
2)Requires districts or COEs that choose to provide these
programs to use research-based materials that are appropriate
for pupils of all races, genders, sexual orientations, gender
identifies, ethnic/cultural backgrounds, and pupils with
disabilities.
3)Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to
provide information, which may be used by school districts or
COEs, about model education programs that are designed to
promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating violence
on the State Department of Education's (SDE) Internet website.
This bill further requires the information to include, but
not be limited to, legal obligations of schools to respond to
teen dating violence and model teen dating violence prevention
policies and curriculum.
4)Requires the SPI, in compiling information to post on SDE's
website, to seek input from other public agencies and private
nonprofit organizations, as specified.
AB 1373
Page 2
FISCAL EFFECT
1)GF/98 cost pressure of at least $450,000, to school districts
and COEs to provide a teen dating violence education program
to pupils in grades 7-12, as specified. In 2009-10, there
were 3 million students enrolled in grades 7-12.
2)GF administrative costs to SDE, likely less than $75,000, to
provide information regarding teen dating violence and post
this information on its Internet website, as specified.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . According to data from the California Healthy Kids
Survey (2006-2008), 6.6% of female and 7.5% of male students
attending traditional schools reported experiencing dating
violence. Likewise, 16.6% of females and 12.1% of male
students attending non-traditional schools (i.e., community
day, continuation, and juvenile court schools) reported
experiencing dating violence. For the purposes of this
survey, dating violence is defined as having been hit,
slapped, punched, or otherwise hurt by a boyfriend/girlfriend
in the past year.
According to the author, "A substantial number of teen dating
violence incidents occur in school buildings and on school
grounds. The state constitution dictates that California
schools have 'an obligation to protect pupils from
mistreatment from other children' and to protect the right of
every student 'to attend campuses which are safe, secure, and
peaceful.' Unfortunately, many schools still do not perceive
teen dating violence as a priority within their mission and
purview to address. With increased access to model programs
and encouragement to partner with domestic violence/sexual
assault organizations or other appropriate community-based
organizations, more schools will be able to offer students
these vital educational programs."
2)Existing law establishes the Carl Washington School Safety and
Violence Prevention Act (CWSSVA), which provides funds to
school districts serving pupils in grades 8-12 for the purpose
of promoting school safety and reducing schoolsite violence.
Funding from this program can be used to hire personnel,
including counselors, social workers, nurses, and
psychologists trained in conflict resolution. Statute also
AB 1373
Page 3
authorizes funding to be used to provide and implement
curricula designed to equip pupils with skills necessary to
prevent school violence, as specified.
As part of the February 2009 budget package, SB 4 X3
(Ducheny), Third Extraordinary Session, Chapter 12, Statutes
of 2009, provided local education agencies (LEAs) with
unprecedented fiscal and policy flexibility related to over 40
categorical programs, including the CWSSVA, between the
2008-09 fiscal year (FY) to the 2012-13 FY. Specifically, any
LEA that received funding for specified categorical programs
in the 2008-09 FY is authorized to use this funding for any
other educational purpose until the 2012-13 FY. The LEA may
choose to continue operating the categorical program that it
received funding for or redirect it for any other educational
purpose it deems appropriate. SB 70 (Committee on Budget and
Fiscal Review), Chapter 7, Statutes of 2011, extended this
flexibility until the 2014-15 FY.
Analysis Prepared by : Kimberly Rodriguez / APPR. / (916)
319-2081