Bill Text: CA AB2654 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered


Bill Title: Postsecondary education: Equity in Higher Education Act.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2016-07-25 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 107, Statutes of 2016. [AB2654 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB2654-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 2654	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  107
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 25, 2016
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  JULY 25, 2016
	PASSED THE SENATE  JUNE 30, 2016
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  MAY 12, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 28, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bonilla

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2016

   An act to amend Section 66281.5 of the Education Code, relating to
postsecondary education.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2654, Bonilla. Postsecondary education: Equity in Higher
Education Act.
   Existing law, known as the Donahoe Higher Education Act, sets
forth, among other things, the missions and functions of California's
public and independent segments of higher education and their
respective institutions of higher education. A provision of the act
applies to the University of California only to the extent that the
Regents of the University of California, by appropriate resolution,
act to make the provision applicable.
   A portion of the Donahoe Education Act known as the Equity in
Higher Education Act requires, among other things, each postsecondary
educational institution in the State of California to have a written
policy on sexual harassment. Existing law requires the postsecondary
educational institution's written policy on sexual harassment to
include information on where to obtain the specific rules and
procedures for reporting charges of sexual harassment and for
pursuing available remedies.
   This bill would require a postsecondary educational institution to
post its written policy on sexual harassment on its Internet Web
site. The bill would require the policy to include information on the
complaint process and the timeline for the complaint process. The
bill would require the policy to include information on where to
obtain the specific rules and procedures for pursuing available
remedies and resources, both on and off campus. By requiring
community colleges to include additional information in their written
policies on sexual harassment and to post the policies on their
Internet Web sites, this 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 these
statutory provisions.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 66281.5 of the Education Code is amended to
read:
   66281.5.  (a) It is the policy of the State of California,
pursuant to Section 66251, that all persons, regardless of their sex,
should enjoy freedom from discrimination of any kind in the
postsecondary educational institution of the state. The purpose of
this section is to provide notification of the prohibition against
sexual harassment as a form of sexual discrimination and to provide
notification of available remedies.
   (b) Each postsecondary educational institution in the State of
California shall have a written policy on sexual harassment,
including information on the complaint process and the timeline for
the complaint process, which shall be available on its Internet Web
site. It is the intent of the Legislature that each educational
institution in this state include this policy in its regular policy
statement rather than distribute an additional written document.
   (c) The postsecondary educational institution's written policy on
sexual harassment shall include information on where to obtain the
specific rules and procedures for reporting charges of sexual
harassment and for pursuing available remedies and resources, both on
and off campus.
   (d) A copy of the postsecondary educational institution's written
policy on sexual harassment shall be displayed in a prominent
location in the main administrative building or other area of the
campus or schoolsite. "Prominent location" means that location, or
those locations, in the main administrative building or other area
where notices regarding the institution's rules, regulations,
procedures, and standards of conduct are posted.
   (e) A copy of the postsecondary educational institution's written
policy on sexual harassment, as it pertains to students, shall be
provided as part of any orientation program conducted for new
students at the beginning of each quarter, semester, or summer
session, as applicable.
   (f) A copy of the postsecondary educational institution's written
policy on sexual harassment shall be provided for each faculty
member, all members of the administrative staff, and all members of
the support staff at the beginning of the first quarter or semester
of the school year, or at the time that there is a new employee
hired.
   (g) A copy of the postsecondary educational institution's written
policy on sexual harassment shall appear in any publication of the
institution that sets forth the comprehensive rules, regulations,
procedures, and standards of conduct for the institution.
  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.     
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