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

California Senate Bill 231 (Prior Session Legislation)

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

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 SENATE  MAY 28, 2013
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 20, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Correa
   (  Coauthor:   Senator  
Block   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  Hotline.   Coordinating Center.

   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  Hotline  
Coordinating Center  would be established  . The hotline
would   , to  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   Superintendent of Public Instruction to appoint
members to a coordinating center advisory council, which would
include individuals who have  experience in  specified
areas, including, among others,  hotline telephone services,
 social media, and  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   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  Hotline  
Coordinating Center, as specified  .
   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  , 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  Hotline 
 Coordinating Center  , which shall address issues relating
to bullying and peer abuse, with a particular focus on 
those  issues that  are impacting  
impact  pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive,
and their families, peers, and communities.
   33451.  (a) The California Bullying Prevention  Hotline
  Coordinating Center  shall be administered by the
 State Department of Education   department
 .
   (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   California Bullying Prevention
Coordinating Center shall establish a Coordinating Center Advisory
Council. Members of the ad   visory council shall include
individuals who have experience in areas including, but  
not limited to,  all of the following  areas  :

   (1) Hotline telephone services  , which  
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.  
   (2) 
    (3)  Behavioral health services. 
   (3) 
    (4)  Crisis prevention and intervention services.

   (4) 
    (5)  Suicide prevention and intervention services.

   (5) 
    (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  overarching  goals and
objectives of the California Bullying Prevention  Hotline
  Coordinating Center  shall include, but 
not necessarily be   are not  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.  
   (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.  
   (c) 
    (b)  The  State Department of Education
  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  Hotline   Coordinating Center 
. 
   (d) 
    (c)  The  State Department of Education
  department  shall recommend  to 
 that  school districts  that  
include  appropriate information about the California Bullying
Prevention  Hotline also be included  
Coordinating Center  on  their   the school
district's  Internet Web  sites and  
site,  in any  new revisions   revision
 of  their   a school's  comprehensive
school safety  plans as well as   plan, and in
 any new  materials,   material developed
that relates to issues of bullying or peer abuse,  such as
 their   a school's  annual parent
newsletter  , that are developed relating to issues of
bullying or peer abuse  . 
   (e) 
    (d)  The  State Department of Education
  department  shall also recommend that school
districts provide information on the California Bullying Prevention
 Hotline   Coordinating Center  to all
pupils  , and their families,  who are involved in
any complaint procedure related to  complaints of 
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.