BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1993
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1993 (Fox)
As Amended May 27, 2014
Majority vote
EDUCATION 6-0 APPROPRIATIONS 13-0
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|Ayes:|Buchanan, Ch�vez, |Ayes:|Gatto, Bocanegra, |
| |Gonzalez, Nazarian, | |Bradford, |
| |Weber, Williams | |Ian Calderon, Campos, |
| | | |Eggman, Gomez, Holden, |
| | | |Linder, Pan, Quirk, |
| | | |Ridley-Thomas, Weber |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requires the California Department of Education (CDE)
to develop an online training module to assist all school staff,
school administrators, parents, pupils, and community members in
increasing their knowledge of the dynamics of bullying and
cyberbullying. Requires the online training module to include,
but is not limited to, identifying an act of bullying or
cyberbullying, and implementing strategies to address bullying
and cyberbullying.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, General Fund administrative costs of $40,000 to the
CDE.
COMMENTS : School-based harassment, discrimination, intimidation
and bullying can create a school climate of fear and disrespect
that can result in conditions that negatively affect learning. A
number of bills have been introduced over the last several years
to address bullying, including cyberbullying, in schools. Under
current law, a pupil may be suspended or recommended for
expulsion for committing specified acts, including bullying and
cyberbullying. "Bullying" is defined as any severe or pervasive
physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made
in writing or by means of an electronic act, and including one
or more acts committed by a pupil or group of pupils engaging in
sexual harassment, hate violence, harassment, threats, or
intimidation, directed toward one or more pupils that has or can
be reasonably predicted to cause fear and have an impact on a
AB 1993
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student's physical and mental health, academic performance, or a
student's ability to participate in school and school
activities.
Existing law establishes the Safe Place to Learn Act and
requires local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish polices
prohibiting discrimination, harassment, intimidation and
bullying, based on the actual or perceived characteristics,
including disability, gender, gender identity, gender
expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, and sexual
orientation. The Safe Place to Learn Act also requires the
establishment of a process for students to report such actions,
and LEAs to investigate such complaints. The Superintendent of
Public Instruction is required to post on the CDE Internet Web
site resources for youth who have experienced discrimination,
harassment, intimidation and bullying.
This bill directs the CDE to develop an online training module
to assist school staff, student, parents and community members
in identifying and addressing bullying and cyberbullying.
According to the author, "Existing law only authorizes schools
to provide training to teachers, now is the time to ensure that
teachers have the tools and resources they need to have
productive classes. Preventative bullying measures will avoid
the escalation of danger. We know that having more caring
adults in a student's life is important to building healthy
communities at schools. In my own district, we have witnessed
firsthand how bullying and the way students react to bullying
disrupts the school day, students' lives and the community.
Thirteen year old Nigel Hardy took his own life after being
bullied. Had there been more caring adults trained in
identifying the signs and symptoms of bullying and intervened
earlier, perhaps this tragic situation could have been
prevented."
Analysis Prepared by : Sophia Kwong Kim / ED. / (916) 319-2087
FN: 0003853
AB 1993
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