BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Carol Liu, Chair
2013-2014 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 1271
AUTHOR: Bonta
AMENDED: June 17, 2014
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: June 25, 2014
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Daniel Alvarez
SUBJECT : School safety plans: pupil mental health care:
violent acts.
SUMMARY
This bill requires, rather than authorizes, as school
safety plans are reviewed and updated that the guidelines
for the roles and responsibilities of mental health
professionals, community intervention professionals, school
counselors, school resource officers, and police officers
on school campus contained with a school safety plan to
include (a) primary strategies, as specified, and (b)
protocols to address the mental health care of pupils who
have witnessed a violent act at school.
BACKGROUND
Current law:
1) Requires each school district and county office of
education to be responsible for the overall
development of all comprehensive school safety plans
for its schools. (Education Code � 32281)
2) Current law requires the schoolsite council of a small
school district to write and develop the school safety
plan, and requires the schoolsite council to consult
with a representative from a law enforcement agency in
the writing and development of the school safety plan.
(EC � 32281)
3) States legislative intent that all public schools
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develop a comprehensive school safety plan that
addresses the safety concerns identified through a
systematic planning process. Current law states
intent that schools develop school safety plans in
cooperation with local law enforcement agencies,
community leaders, parents, pupils, teachers,
administrators, and other people who may be interested
in the prevention of campus crime and violence. (EC �
32280)
4) Authorizes school districts and county offices of
education, in consultation with law enforcement, to
elect to not have its schoolsite council develop and
write portions of the school safety plan that include
tactical responses to criminal incidents. Portions of
the safety plan containing tactical responses may be
developed by school administrators in consultation
with law enforcement and with a representative of the
employee bargaining unit. Governing boards are
authorized to approve the tactical response portion of
the safety plan in a closed session. (EC � 32281)
5) Requires the comprehensive school safety plan to
include (1) an assessment of the current status of
school crime committed on school campuses and at
school-related functions and (2) identification of
appropriate strategies and programs that will provide
or maintain a high level of school safety and detail
procedures for complying with existing laws; disaster
procedures; policies regarding suspension or
expulsion; a discrimination and harassment policy;
and, a safe and orderly environment conducive to
learning. (EC � 32282)
6) Encourages, as school safety plans are reviewed and
updated, plans to include policies and procedures
aimed at the prevention of bullying.
(EC � 32282)
7) Requires the comprehensive school safety plan to be
evaluated at least once a year. (EC � 32282)
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8) Requires the schoolsite council or school safety
planning committee to hold a public meeting to allow
public comment, and requires the notification of
specified entities prior to this meeting. Current law
requires each school to submit its school safety plan
to the school district or county office of education
for approval and requires a school district or
California Office of Education to notify the
California Department of Education by October 15 of
every year of any school that is not in compliance.
(EC � 32288)
9) Requires each school to include a description of key
elements of the school safety plan in the annual
school accountability report card.
(EC � 32286)
10) Current law requires, if the Superintendent of Public
Instruction determines that there has been a willful
failure to make any report required in school safety
plan statutes to do both of the following:
a) Notify the school district or county office
of education in which the willful failure has
occurred.
b) Make an assessment of up to $2,000 against
that school or county office, which may be done
by deducting funding from the district's or
county office's future apportionment. (EC �
32287)
ANALYSIS
This bill requires, rather than authorizes, as school
safety plans are reviewed and updated that the guidelines
for the roles and responsibilities of mental health
professionals, community intervention professionals, school
counselors, school resource officers, and police officers
on school campus contained with a school safety plan to
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include (a) primary strategies, as specified, and (b)
protocols to address the mental health care of pupils who
have witnessed a violent act at school. More specifically,
this bill:
1) Requires, rather than encourages, all comprehensive
school safety plans as they are reviewed and updated,
to the extent resources are available, to include
clear guidelines for the roles and responsibilities of
mental health professionals, community intervention
professionals, school counselors, school resource
officers and police officers on campus.
2) Requires the guidelines developed to include both of
the following:
a) Primary strategies, as already specified in
statute, to create and maintain a positive school
climate, promote school safety, and increase
pupil achievement, and prioritize mental health
and intervention services, restorative and
transformative justice programs, and positive
behavior interventions and support.
b) Protocols to address the mental health care
of pupils who have witnessed a violent act at
school.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) According to the author's office , a Cable News Network
(CNN) article published on June 12, 2014, stated that
there have been at least 15 school shootings in the
past 18 months that were similar to the December 2012
massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Shootings
such as the Sandy Hook massacre have devastating
effects on both the communities in which they occur
and the nation. Students, parents and other community
members require counseling, support groups, increased
safety protocols, and other procedures to help
individuals first grieve properly and then begin to
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heal.
Children and youth living in low-income neighborhoods,
as well as children and youth of color, are
disproportionately impacted by trauma, including gun
violence. Compared to Caucasian children and youth,
Latinos are twice as likely and African Americans are
three times as likely to be exposed to shootings,
bombs, and riots. Recent history has proved to this
country that it can be very difficult to prevent and
control many violent acts, such as shootings, at
schools. However, it is possible for us to prepare
our schools and students in the case of a crisis.
2) Chapter 422, Statutes of 2013 (AB 549, Jones-Sawyer) .
This measure encouraged, rather than required, all
comprehensive school safety plans, to the extent
resources are available, to include clear guidelines
for the roles and responsibilities of mental health
professionals, community intervention professionals,
school counselors, school resource officers and police
officers on campus. AB 1271 would undo what was
recently enacted into to law as of January 1, 2014.
Therefore, staff recommends the following amendments:
On page 3, line 14 to strike "requires"
and insert: encourages
On page 4, line 4, strike "at school" and
insert:
defined as an act listed in subdivision (a) (b),
(c) (d), (e), (n), (o), (q) or (r) of Section
48900 that occurs at any time, including but not
limited to, any of the following:
(1) while on school grounds; (2) while going to
or coming from school; (3) during a lunch period
whether on or off campus; or (4) during or while
going to or coming from, a school sponsored
activity.
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SUPPORT
None on this version.
OPPOSITION
None on this version.