BILL NUMBER: AB 514	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 26, 2013
	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
 instead  require the Superintendent to post  that
information  on the  Superintendent's  
State Department of Education's  Internet Web site  , and
would also require the department's Internet Web site to 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   , at school, and in the
community  . 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.   (a)    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.
 
   (1) Our children have the talent and capacity for greatness, if
given the opportunity to thrive and grow in a healthy environment.
 
   (2) Violence has become a fact of life for many children
throughout the state, including living in communities with high rates
of homicide.  
   (3) Many children suffer complications from growing up in a
violent environment, including depression and post-traumatic stress
disorder, which make it more difficult to become engaged and
productive pupils at school.  
   (4) A school is a place not only for perfunctory instruction but
also a place where children learn about humanity, family, and
community, free from violence and fear.  
   (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to make safety a priority
and ensure that our children are kept safe from all forms of
violence, especially while children are in school. It is further the
intent of the Legislature to create safe and supportive school
environments where each child is able to thrive. 
  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   the department's  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   department'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   , at school, and in the community  .