BILL NUMBER: AB 1390 VETOED DATE: 09/11/2000 To Members of the California Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 1390 without my signature. This bill would establish the Bullying Prevention Program, to be implemented through a competitive grant process by school districts maintaining grades 5 and 6. This bill would appropriate $150,000 General Fund to provide the grants. The effort to enhance school safety and provide awareness to students and teachers should be part of ongoing school safety efforts. Teachers, administrators, and playground attendants should, as a course of normal responsibilities, be aware of what the children are doing, including bullying, without the need for specialized programs, training, and counseling. Furthermore, the current budget provides $425 million to school districts for locally determined priorities, including school safety need s, which can be used to implement bullying prevention programs, should this be locally determined to be a need. Sincerely, GRAY DAVIS