Bill Text: CA SB231 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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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

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BILL NUMBER: SB 231	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 20, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Correa
    (   Coauthor:   Senator   Block
  ) 
    (   Coauthors:   Assembly Members 
 Ammiano,   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 and peer abuse
prevention hotline.   Bullying: California Bullying
Prevention Hotline. 
   Existing law  protects the safety and welfare of students
and other individuals.   defines "bullying" as any
severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including
communications made in wri   ting 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  state the intent of the Legislature to
enact legislation that would establish a bullying and peer abuse
prevention hotline.   enact the Michael Joseph Berry
Peer Abuse Prevention and Awareness Act of 2013, pursuant to which
the California Bullying Prevention Hotline would be established. The
hotline would be administered by the State Department of Education.
The bill would require the State Department of Education, in
consultation with the Student Mental Health Initiative of the State
Department of Health Care Services and other   entities
deemed appropriate, to contract with an entity that has experience in
hotline telephone services, behavioral health services, crisis
prevention and intervention services, suicide prevention and
intervention services, and with providing services in a
linguistically and culturally competent manner. The bill would
specify the types of information to be communicated to callers to the
hotline. The bill would require the State Department of Education to
recommend to school districts appropriate guidelines, best pr 
 actices, and information that school districts may disseminate
to pupils and their families about the existence, goals, and
objectives of the California Bullying Prevention   Hotline.
 
   The bill would provide that its operation in any fiscal year is
contingent upon the certification by the Superintendent of Public
Instruction that sufficient funding is available for the
implementation of this bill in that fiscal year. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  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 Hotline, which shall
address issues relating to bullying and peer abuse, with a particular
focus on those issues that are impacting pupils in kindergarten and
grades 1 to 12, inclusive, and their families, peers, and
communities.
   33451.  (a) The California Bullying Prevention Hotline shall be
administered by the State Department of Education.
   (b) The State Department of Education, in consultation with the
Student Mental Health Initiative of the State Department of Health
Care Services and other entities as deemed appropriate by the State
Department of Education, shall contract with an entity that has
experience in all of the following areas:
   (1) Hotline telephone services, which are nationally accredited
and provided on a regional or statewide basis.
   (2) Behavioral health services.
   (3) Crisis prevention and intervention services.
   (4) Suicide prevention and intervention services.
   (5) Providing services in a linguistically and culturally
competent manner.
   33452.  (a) The overarching goals and objectives of the California
Bullying Prevention Hotline shall include, but not necessarily be
limited to, communicating with callers and providing information
about all of the following:
   (1) Assessment of the bullying and peer abuse reported by callers.

   (2) Ensuring the safety of individuals, as related to bullying and
peer abuse.
   (3) Educating callers about the causes and prevention of bullying
and peer abuse.
   (4) Referring callers to resources for addressing bullying and
peer abuse.
   (b) The specific responsibilities, activities, and services that
shall be provided through the California Bullying Prevention Hotline
shall be determined by the State Department of Education, in
collaboration with the Student Mental Health Initiative of the State
Department of Health Care Services and other entities as deemed
appropriate by the State Department of Education, and shall also
include appropriate input and recommendations from pupils, advocates,
families, community-based organizations, and individuals who have
expertise in issues related to mental health, peer abuse and
bullying, and cultural and linguistic competence.
   (c) The State Department of Education 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 Hotline.
   (d) The State Department of Education shall recommend to school
districts that appropriate information about the California Bullying
Prevention Hotline also be included on their Internet Web sites and
in any new revisions of their comprehensive school safety plans as
well as any new materials, such as their annual parent newsletter,
that are developed relating to issues of bullying or peer abuse.
   (e) The State Department of Education shall also recommend that
school districts provide information on the California Bullying
Prevention Hotline to all pupils, and their families, who are
involved in any complaint procedure related to complaints of peer
abuse, bullying, harassment, or discrimination.
   33453.  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.  
  SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation that would establish a bullying and peer abuse
prevention hotline.