Bill Text: CA SB231 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Bullying: California Bullying Prevention Clearinghouse.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-08-30 - Set, second hearing. Held in committee and under submission. [SB231 Detail]
Download: California-2013-SB231-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: SB 231 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 5, 2013
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 28, 2013
AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 20, 2013
INTRODUCED BY Senator Correa
(Coauthors: Senators Block and Steinberg)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Ammiano, Garcia, Lowenthal, and Ting)
FEBRUARY 11, 2013
An act to add Article 11 (commencing with Section 33450) to
Chapter 3 of Part 20 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Education Code,
relating to bullying.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 231, as amended, Correa. Bullying: California Bullying
Prevention Coordinating Center.
Clearinghouse.
Existing law defines "bullying" as any severe or pervasive
physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in
writing or by means of an electronic act, as defined, and including
one or more acts of sexual harassment, threats, or intimidation,
directed against school district personnel or pupils, committed by a
pupil or a group of pupils, that would cause a reasonable pupil, as
defined, to be in fear of harm to his or her person or property, to
experience a substantially detrimental effect on his or her physical
or mental health, to experience substantial interference with his or
her academic performance, or to experience substantial interference
with his or her ability to participate in or benefit from the
services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
This bill would enact the Michael Joseph Berry Peer Abuse
Prevention and Awareness Act of 2013, pursuant to which the
California Bullying Prevention Coordinating Center
Clearinghouse would be established, to be administered by
the State Department of Education. The bill would require the
Superintendent of Public Instruction to appoint members to a
coordinating center advisory council, clearinghouse,
California Bullying Prevention Advisory Council which would
include individuals who have experience in specified areas,
including, among others, hotline telephone services, social media,
and behavioral health services. The
The bill would require the department to maintain the
clearinghouse under the guidance of the clearinghouse advisory
council, and would, among other things, require that the
clearinghouse act as a repository of information on antibullying
resources, links, and available services. The bill would
require the department to recommend to school districts appropriate
guidelines, best practices, and information that school districts may
disseminate to pupils and their families about the existence, goals,
and objectives of the California Bullying Prevention
Coordinating Center Clearinghouse , as
specified.
The bill would provide that its operation in any fiscal year is
contingent upon the certification by the Superintendent that
sufficient funding is available for the implementation of this bill
in that fiscal year, and would prohibit the use of General Fund
moneys to implement the bill.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Article 11 (commencing with Section 33450) is added to
Chapter 3 of Part 20 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Education Code,
to read:
Article 11. The Michael Joseph Berry Peer Abuse Prevention and
Awareness Act of 2013
33450. (a) This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the
Michael Joseph Berry Peer Abuse Prevention and Awareness Act of 2013.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to
establish a California Bullying Prevention Coordinating
Center Clearinghouse , which shall address
issues relating to bullying and peer abuse, with a particular focus
on issues that impact pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12,
inclusive, and their families, peers, and communities.
33451. (a) The California Bullying Prevention
Coordinating Center Clearinghouse is hereby
established, and shall be administered by the department.
(b) The California Bullying Prevention Coordinating
Center Superintendent shall establish a
Coordinating Center California Bullying Prevention
Advisory Council. Members of the advisory council shall include
individuals who have experience in areas including, but not
necessarily limited to, all of the following:
(1) Hotline telephone services that are nationally accredited and
provided on a regional or statewide basis.
(2) Social media, such as texting, blogging, chat rooms, and other
forms of cyber communications.
(3) Behavioral health services.
(4) Crisis prevention and intervention services.
(5) Suicide prevention and intervention services.
(6) Providing services in a linguistically and culturally
competent manner.
(7) Other areas related to bullying and peer abuse.
(c) Members of the advisory council shall be appointed by the
Superintendent, and serve at his or her pleasure. Members of the
advisory council shall be reimbursed only for reasonable expenses
associated with the performance of their duties, and shall not
receive any salary, per diem, or other compensation.
33452. (a) The goals and objectives of the California
Bullying Prevention Coordinating Center duties of the
advisory council shall include, but are not necessarily
limited to, all of the following:
(1) Providing technical assistance to the department, school
districts, and other appropriate entities on best practices,
strategies, and other interventions that may assist in reducing the
incidence of bullying and peer abuse.
(2) Providing recommendations through which pupils, families,
school personnel, and other stakeholders may access existing
resources and supports that are related to bullying and peer abuse.
(3) Providing recommendations through which the department may
improve the collection and analysis of data related to bullying and
peer abuse.
(4) Providing recommendations on future legislation, regulations,
and public policy that could be implemented to reduce the incidence
of bullying and peer abuse.
(5) Providing recommendations on future antibullying communication
strategies, such as a bullying prevention hotline.
(b) The department shall maintain the California Bullying
Prevention Clearinghouse under the guidance of the advisory council.
The responsibilities of the clearinghouse include, but are not
necessarily limited to, all of the following:
(1) Acting as a repository of information about antibullying
resources, links, and available services.
(2) Establishing guidelines, best practices, and information that
school districts may disseminate to pupils and their families.
(3) Establishing recommendations that a school district may
include on bullying prevention measures on a school district's
Internet Web site, in any revision of a school's comprehensive school
safety plan, and in any new material developed on issues related to
bullying or peer abuse, such as a school's annual parent
notification.
(b)
( c) The department shall recommend to
school districts appropriate guidelines, best practices, and
information that school districts may disseminate to pupils and their
families about the existence, goals, and objectives of the
California Bullying Prevention Coordinating Center
Clearinghouse .
(c)
( d) The department shall recommend that
school districts include appropriate information about the California
Bullying Prevention Coordinating Center
Clearinghouse on the school district's Internet Web
site, in any revision of a school's comprehensive school safety plan,
and in any new material developed that relates to issues of bullying
or peer abuse, such as a school's annual parent newsletter .
(d)
( e) The department shall also recommend
that school districts provide information on the California Bullying
Prevention Coordinating Center Clearinghouse
to all pupils who are involved in any complaint procedure
related to peer abuse, bullying, harassment, or discrimination, and
to their families.
33453. (a) The operation of this article in any fiscal year is
contingent upon the certification by the Superintendent that
sufficient funding is available for the implementation of this
article in that fiscal year.
(b) General Fund moneys shall not be used to implement this
article.
