Bill Text: CA AB2221 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Pupil Support Training Program.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-05-05 - Re-referred to Com. on ED. [AB2221 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB2221-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  May 04, 2020

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2221

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Introduced by Assembly Member Cristina Garcia

February 12, 2020

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An act to add Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 49445) to Chapter 9 of Part 27 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, relating to pupil health.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2221, as amended, Cristina Garcia. Pupil Support Training Program.

Existing law requires the governing board of any school district to give diligent care to the health and physical development of pupils and authorizes the governing board of a school district to employ properly certified persons for the work.

This bill would require a school district that maintains any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to establish at each school of the school district a pupil peer support training program to provide training to volunteer pupils on how to act as a peer support. The bill would require the training under the program to be administered by school psychologists, counselors, or other qualified peer support trainers holding a pupil personnel services credential. By imposing additional duties on school districts to establish a pupil peer support training program, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

This bill, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature for its purposes, would establish the Pupil Peer Support Training Program. The bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop an application process and administration plan for the selection of grant recipients under the program before January 1, 2021. The bill would require the Superintendent to award Pupil Peer Support Training Program grants on a competitive basis to local educational agencies serving pupils in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to establish a peer support training program at schools maintained by these local educational agencies. The bill would require a grant recipient to ensure that the training and ongoing supervision of pupils serving as peer supports be conducted by school staff holding a pupil personnel services credential.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YESNO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 49445) is added to Chapter 9 of Part 27 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:

Article  3.5. Pupil Peer Support Training Program

49445.

(a)(1)A school district that maintains any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, shall establish at each school of the school district a pupil peer support training program to provide training to volunteer pupils on how to act as a peer support.

(2)The training under the program shall be administered by school psychologists, counselors, or other qualified peer support trainers holding a pupil personnel services credential.

(b)Pupils in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, may volunteer to participate in the program.

(c)The requirements of this section are in addition to any other requirement in law and are not intended to take the place of another established form of care.

49445.

 (a) There is hereby established, subject to the appropriation of funding for this purpose, the Pupil Peer Support Training Program.

(b) Before January 31, 2021, the Superintendent shall develop an application process and administration plan for the selection of grant recipients. Administration of this grant shall include providing program oversight and technical assistance to grantees selected pursuant to this section.

(c) The Superintendent shall award Pupil Peer Support Training Program grants on a competitive basis to local educational agencies serving pupils in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive.

(d) A local educational agency may apply for a grant under this program to establish a peer support training program at one or more of the schools it maintains that enroll pupils in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive.

(e) A local educational agency receiving a grant under this program shall ensure that the training and ongoing supervision of pupils serving as peer supports be conducted by school staff holding a pupil personnel services credential.

(f) The Superintendent shall compile a list of evidence-based peer support programs that meet the requirements of this program and post it on the department’s internet website on or before January 1, 2021.

(g) Pupil peer support training program grant recipients shall commit to providing program data to the department, as specified by the Superintendent.

(h) The requirements of this section are in addition to any other requirement in law and do not replace another established form of care.

(i) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.

SEC. 2.

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.