BILL NUMBER: AB 514 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 6, 2013
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 19, 2013
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Bonta
FEBRUARY 20, 2013
An act to amend Section 234.5 of the Education Code, relating to
school safety.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 514, as amended, Bonta. The Safe Schools for Safe Learning Act
of 2013.
Existing law establishes the Safe Place to Learn Act and, among
other things, requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to
post on his or her Internet Web site a list of statewide resources
that provide support to youth who have been subjected to school-based
discrimination, harassment, or bullying, and their families.
This bill, the Safe Schools for Safe Learning Act of 2013, would
require the Superintendent to post on the Superintendent's Internet
Web site a list of statewide resources for youth who have been
affected by gangs, gun violence, and psychological trauma caused
by violence at home and at school . The bill would express
various findings and declarations of the Legislature relating to
school safety.
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. This act shall be known as the Safe Schools for Safe
Learning Act of 2013.
SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Child safety should be a priority in our state, and we, as the
state Legislature, should ensure that our children are kept safe
from any form of violence, especially while children are in school.
(b) Our children have the talent and capacity for greatness, if
given the opportunity to thrive and grow in a healthy environment.
(c) Unfortunately, violence has become a fact of life for many
pupils in the 18th Assembly District and throughout the state
. For example, Oakland suffered from 131 homicides in 2012.
Many children suffer complications from growing up in a violent
environment, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder,
which makes it more difficult to become an engaged and productive
pupil at school.
(d) Assembly Member Bonta has asked pupils to submit their
responses to the question, "What would make you feel safer at school?"
The Safe Schools for Safe Learning Act of 2013 will be based on the
winning response to that question.
(e) We need to create safe and supportive school environments
where each child is able to thrive. A school is not just a place for
perfunctory instruction. It is also the place where a child learns
about humanity, family, and community, free from violence and fear.
SEC. 3. Section 234.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:
234.5. The Superintendent shall post, and annually update, on his
or her Internet Web site and provide to each school district a list
of statewide resources, including community-based organizations, that
provide support to youth who have been subjected to school-based
discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, and their
families. The Superintendent's Internet Web site shall also include a
list of statewide resources for youth who have been affected by
gangs, gun violence, and psychological trauma caused by violence
at home and at school .