text:
(a) The Legislature hereby recognizes that all pupils enrolled in the state public schools have the inalienable right to attend classes on school campuses that are safe, secure, and peaceful. The Legislature also recognizes that pupils cannot fully benefit from an educational program unless they attend school on a regular basis. In addition, the Legislature further recognizes that school crime, vandalism, truancy, and excessive absenteeism are significant problems on far too many school campuses in the state.

(b) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the establishment of an interagency coordination system is the most efficient and long-lasting means of resolving school and community problems of truancy and crime, including vandalism, drug and alcohol abuse, gang membership, gang violence, and hate crimes.

(c) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to support California public schools as they develop their mandated comprehensive safety plans that are the result of a systematic planning process, that include strategies aimed at the prevention of, and education about, potential incidents involving crime and violence on school campuses, and that address the safety concerns of local law enforcement agencies, community leaders, parents, pupils, teachers, administrators, school police, and other school employees interested in the prevention of school crime and violence.

(d) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to encourage school districts, county offices of education, law enforcement agencies, and agencies serving youth to develop and implement interagency strategies, in-service training programs, and activities that will improve school attendance and reduce school crime and violence, including vandalism, drug and alcohol abuse, gang membership, gang violence, hate crimes, bullying, including bullying committed personally or by means of an electronic act, teen relationship violence, and discrimination and harassment, including, but not limited to, sexual harassment.

(e) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter that the School/Law Enforcement Partnership shall not duplicate any existing gang or drug and alcohol abuse program currently provided for schools.

(f) As used in this chapter, “bullying” has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision (r) of Section 48900.

(g) As used in this chapter, “electronic act” has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision (r) of Section 48900.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 732, Sec. 2. (AB 1156) Effective January 1, 2012. Operative July 1, 2012, by Sec. 8 of Ch. 732.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

chapter: 2.5. Interagency School Safety Demonstration Act of 1985

article: 1. General Provisions


kind: section

code: EDC

text:
(a) There is hereby established the School/Law Enforcement Partnership, comprised of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Attorney General. The duties of the partnership shall consist of all of the following:

(1) The development of programs and policies necessary to implement the provisions of Article 5 (commencing with Section 32280).

(2) The administration of safe school programs and all training, procedures, and activities conducted pursuant to this chapter.

(3) Cooperation with other states and state and federal agencies on matters relating to school safety.

(b) As used in this chapter, the term “partnership” means the School/Law Enforcement Partnership established by this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 828, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2004.)

division: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

part: 19. MISCELLANEOUS

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 1. General Provisions

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 19. MISCELLANEOUS > 2.5. Interagency School Safety Demonstration Act of 1985 > 1. General Provisions


text:
(a) The partnership shall sponsor at least two regional conferences for school districts, county offices of education, agencies serving youth, allied agencies, community-based organizations, and law enforcement agencies to identify exemplary programs and techniques that have been effectively used to reduce school crime, including hate crimes, vandalism, drug and alcohol abuse, gang membership and gang violence, truancy, and excessive absenteeism.

(b) The conference may include, but need not be limited to, information on all of the following topics:

(1) Interagency collaboration between schools, agencies serving youth, law enforcement agencies, and others.

(2) School attendance.

(3) School safety.

(4) Citizenship education.

(5) Drug and alcohol abuse.

(6) Child abuse prevention, detection, and reporting.

(7) Parental education.

(8) Crisis response training.

(9) Bullying prevention, including the prevention of acts committed personally or by means of an electronic act.

(10) Threat assessment.

(11) Conflict resolution and youth mediation.

(12) Teen relationship violence.

(13) Discrimination and harassment reporting and prevention, including, but not limited to, sexual harassment reporting and prevention.

(14) Hate crime reporting and prevention.

(15) Reporting and prevention of abuse against pupils with disabilities.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 646, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2009.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Conferences

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 19. MISCELLANEOUS > 2.5. Interagency School Safety Demonstration Act of 1985 > 2. Conferences


text:
(a) The partnership shall establish a statewide school safety cadre for the purpose of facilitating interagency coordination and collaboration among school districts, county offices of education, agencies serving youth, allied agencies, community-based organizations, and law enforcement agencies to improve school attendance, encourage good citizenship, and to reduce school violence, school crime, including hate crimes, vandalism, drug and alcohol abuse, gang membership and gang violence, truancy rates, bullying, including acts that are committed personally or by means of an electronic act, teen relationship violence, and discrimination and harassment, including, but not limited to, sexual harassment.

(b) The partnership may appoint up to 100 professionals from educational agencies, community-based organizations, allied agencies, and law enforcement to the statewide cadre.

(c) The partnership shall provide training to the statewide cadre representatives to enable them to initiate and maintain school community safety programs among school districts, county offices of education, agencies serving youth, allied agencies, community-based organizations, and law enforcement agencies in each region.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 646, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2009.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 3. School Safety Cadre

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 19. MISCELLANEOUS > 2.5. Interagency School Safety Demonstration Act of 1985 > 3. School Safety Cadre


text:
The partnership shall annually assess the programs and activities under the Interagency School Safety Demonstration Act of 1985. The assessment shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(a) An assessment of the appropriateness and effectiveness of the statewide conferences conducted pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 32265).

(b) An assessment of the extent to which the statewide school safety cadre has been able to provide appropriate technical assistance to school districts, county offices of education, and law enforcement agencies.

(c) An assessment of the effectiveness of the ongoing training on safe schools and crisis response provided pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 32270.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 32295 by Stats. 2003, Ch. 828, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 2004.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 4. Program Assessment

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 19. MISCELLANEOUS > 2.5. Interagency School Safety Demonstration Act of 1985 > 4. Program Assessment


text:
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that all California public schools teaching kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, operated by a school district, in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, community leaders, parents, pupils, teachers, administrators, classified employees, local emergency medical services personnel, the school’s public entity risk pool joint powers authority or insurance provider, and other persons who may be interested in the health and safety of pupils and the prevention of campus crime and violence, develop a comprehensive school safety plan that addresses the safety concerns identified through a systematic planning process.

(b) It is also the intent of the Legislature that all school staff be trained on the comprehensive school safety plan.

(c) For the purposes of this section, law enforcement agencies include local police departments, county sheriffs’ offices, school district police or security departments, probation departments, and district attorneys’ offices.

(d) For purposes of this section, a “safety plan” means a plan to develop strategies aimed at the prevention of, response to, and education about, potential incidents involving medical emergencies, including sudden cardiac arrest, and crime and violence on the school campus.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 460, Sec. 2. (SB 848) Effective January 1, 2026.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. School Safety Plans

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 19. MISCELLANEOUS > 2.5. Interagency School Safety Demonstration Act of 1985 > 5. School Safety Plans


text:
(a) On or before July 1, 2030, each public school, including charter schools, with an enrollment of 100 pupils or more is encouraged to implement a web-based or app-based school safety program that includes the following program parameters:

(1) A common alphanumeric grid mapping system for the identification of all buildings and locations upon the schoolsite that is replicable across all schoolsites in the state, with each building within the mapped system having conspicuous signage upon all corners of the structure listing the alphanumeric identification and any other pertinent information.

(2) A multilayered digital map of the schoolsite that contains key information, including, but not limited to, detailed building floor plans, alphanumeric building identification, gate locations, shut-off valve locations, first aid equipment locations, automated external defibrillator locations, links to 360-degree interior and 360-degree aerial photography, and the location of, and field of view of, schoolsite surveillance cameras.

(3) The ability to place time stamped event markers on the digital map that identify important information about a crisis, including, but not limited to, injuries, hazards, suspect sightings, and safety zones.

(4) (A) The ability to alert first responders from multiple agencies within a reasonable geographic area from the school in the event of an emergency on or around the schoolsite.

(B) A designated schoolsite administrator or staff member may request law enforcement assistance using the web-based or app-based school safety program only when there is a situation involving imminent danger of serious physical injury or death to a person on school property, and shall not request law enforcement assistance in a situation that can be safely and appropriately handled by the school’s internal pupil disciplinary procedures, even if a parent or guardian requests the designated schoolsite administrator or staff member to request law enforcement assistance. A parent or guardian who requests the designated schoolsite administrator or staff member to request law enforcement assistance when there is no imminent danger of serious physical injury or death to a person on school property shall be informed that school policy requires alternative measures to be taken to respond to the situation. The designated schoolsite administrator or staff member shall provide the parent or guardian with a list of alternative measures that may be taken to respond to the situation, along with any community resources that may be used, as appropriate.

(5) (A) Remote access for first responders to connect to a schoolsite’s surveillance system, with each camera having alphanumeric identification, displaying the direction of the camera’s view, and including a brief description of what is seen within the camera’s field of view.

(B) First responders may connect to a schoolsite’s surveillance system only when a designated schoolsite administrator or staff member requests law enforcement assistance for a situation involving imminent danger of serious physical injury or death to a person on school property.

(6) Detailed schoolsite information, including, but not limited to, both of the following:

(A) The general schoolsite location, schoolsite size, pupil populations, the schoolsite’s grade levels, and the number of staff on campus.

(B) The schoolsite’s Wi-Fi connection information, a hierarchy representation of those with responsibility duties, including their name, title, photograph, and contact information, and the emergency procedures for that schoolsite.

(7) (A) The ability for school administrators to know the location and condition of pupils and staff through an information relay built into the application in order to allow for schoolsite staff to designate pupils as “absent,” “present,” “missing,” “injured,” and “reconnect,” based upon their accurate accounting, with the “reconnect” feature including a messaging system that notifies each pupil’s emergency contacts when that pupil has been safely secured by an authorized emergency contact.

(B) The web-based or app-based school safety program shall not use biometric information or require pupils or staff to use or install an app that provides real-time location tracking.

(8) A one-directional message service that allows the program director and the schoolsite primary contact to keep schoolsite staff up to date with current, urgent details.

(9) The ability to operate the program to conduct emergency practice drills and archive dates, times, and comments related to an emergency practice drill.

(b) If a school implements a web-based or app-based school safety program pursuant to subdivision (a), the school shall ensure that the program developers ensure that best practices are implemented to protect the security and data of all pupils and staff listed within the program. The program developers shall, at a minimum, do all of the following:

(1) Consult with the department to ensure that the best practices and requirements described in this section are met.

(2) Comply with the Student Online Personal Information Protection Act (Chapter 22.2 (commencing with Section 22584) of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code).

(3) Comply with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g).

(4) Make the contract between the school and the program developers publicly available.

(5) Make the best practices followed by the program developers publicly available.

(c) This section does not preclude the governing board or body of a local educational agency from implementing more stringent or additional requirements regarding school safety programs.

(d) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of, and subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of, subdivision (a), contain sensitive and tactical response information that is critical to the safety and well-being of public schools and their pupils. Therefore, the information in paragraphs (1) and (2) of, and subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of, subdivision (a), shall be kept confidential, except as otherwise required for purposes of implementing the section, and shall be exempt from any school safety plan disclosure requirements under this article and from disclosure under the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code).

(e) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Biometric information” has the same meaning as defined in Section 1798.140 of the Civil Code.

(2) “Imminent danger of serious physical injury or death” means that based on the totality of the circumstances, a reasonable person in the same situation would believe that an individual has the present ability, opportunity, and apparent intent to immediately cause serious physical injury or death to a person. “Imminent danger of serious physical injury or death” is not merely a fear of future harm, no matter how great the fear or likelihood of the harm, but is a fear of future harm that, from appearances, must be instantly confronted and addressed.

(3) “Serious physical injury” means bodily injury that involves a substantial risk of death, extreme physical pain, protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 528, Sec. 1. (AB 960) Effective January 1, 2025.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. School Safety Plans


text:
(a) Each school district and county office of education is responsible for the overall development of all comprehensive school safety plans for its schools operating kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.

(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (d) with regard to a small school district, the schoolsite council established pursuant to former Section 52012, as it existed before July 1, 2005, or Section 52852 shall write and develop a comprehensive school safety plan relevant to the needs and resources of that particular school.

(2) The schoolsite council may delegate this responsibility to a school safety planning committee made up of the following members:

(A) The principal or the principal’s designee.

(B) One teacher who is a representative of the recognized certificated employee organization.

(C) One parent whose child attends the school.

(D) One classified employee who is a representative of the recognized classified employee organization.

(E) Other members, if desired.

(3) The schoolsite council shall consult with a representative from a law enforcement agency, a fire department, and other first responder entities in the writing and development of the comprehensive school safety plan. The comprehensive school safety plan and any updates to the plan shall be shared with the law enforcement agency, the fire department, and the other first responder entities.

(4) In the absence of a schoolsite council, the members specified in paragraph (2) shall serve as the school safety planning committee.

(c) This article does not limit or take away the authority of school boards as guaranteed under this code.

(d) Subdivision (b) shall not apply to a small school district if the small school district develops a districtwide comprehensive school safety plan that is applicable to each schoolsite.

(e) (1) When a principal or their designee verifies through local law enforcement officials that a report has been filed of the occurrence of a violent crime or sex offense on the schoolsite of an elementary or secondary school at which they are the principal, the principal or the principal’s designee may send to each pupil’s parent or legal guardian and each school employee a written notice of the occurrence and general nature of the crime. If the principal or their designee chooses to send the written notice, the Legislature encourages the notice be sent no later than the end of business on the second regular workday after the verification. If, at the time of verification, local law enforcement officials determine that notification of the violent crime or sex offense would hinder an ongoing investigation, the notification authorized by this subdivision shall be made within a reasonable period of time, to be determined by the local law enforcement agency and the school district.

(2) This subdivision does not create any liability in a school district or their employees for complying with paragraph (1).

(f) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a school district or county office of education may, in consultation with law enforcement officials, elect to not have its schoolsite council develop and write those portions of its comprehensive school safety plan that include tactical responses to criminal incidents that may result in death or serious bodily injury at the schoolsite. The portions of a comprehensive school safety plan that include tactical responses to criminal incidents may be developed by administrators of the school district or county office of education in consultation with law enforcement officials and with a representative of an exclusive bargaining unit of employees of that school district or county office of education, if the representative chooses to participate. The school district or county office of education may elect not to disclose those portions of the comprehensive school safety plan that include tactical responses to criminal incidents.

(2) As used in this article, “tactical responses to criminal incidents” means steps taken to safeguard pupils and staff, to secure the affected school premises, and to apprehend the criminal perpetrator or perpetrators.

(3) This subdivision does not preclude the governing board of a school district or county office of education from conferring in a closed session with law enforcement officials pursuant to Section 54957 of the Government Code to approve a tactical response plan developed in consultation with those officials pursuant to this subdivision. Any vote to approve the tactical response plan shall be announced in open session following the closed session.

(4) This subdivision does not reduce or eliminate the requirements of Section 32282.

(g) For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Child abuse or neglect” has the same meaning as defined in Section 11165.6 of the Penal Code.

(2) “Sex offense” has the same meaning as defined in Section 44010.

(3) “Small school district” means a school district that has fewer than 2,501 units of average daily attendance at the beginning of each fiscal year.

(4) “Violent crime” means any of the following:

(A) An act defined or described in paragraphs (2) to (4), inclusive, of subdivision (i) of Section 67381 and that is an act for which a pupil could or would be expelled pursuant to Section 48915.

(B) A violent felony pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 of the Penal Code.

(C) A serious felony pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7 of the Penal Code.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 460, Sec. 3. (SB 848) Effective January 1, 2026.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. School Safety Plans


text:
(a) The comprehensive school safety plan shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) Assessing the current status of crime committed on school campuses and at school-related functions.

(2) Identifying appropriate strategies and programs that will provide or maintain a high level of school safety and address the school’s procedures for complying with existing laws related to school safety, which shall include the development of all of the following:

(A) (i) Child abuse or neglect reporting procedures consistent with Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11164) of Chapter 2 of Title 1 of Part 4 of the Penal Code.

(ii) When a comprehensive school safety plan is next reviewed and updated, or by no later than July 1, 2026, procedures specifically designed to address the supervision and protection of children from child abuse or neglect or sex offenses.

(B) (i) Disaster procedures, routine and emergency, including adaptations for pupils with disabilities in accordance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.), and Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 794(a)). The disaster procedures shall also include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(I) Establishing an earthquake emergency procedure system in every public school building having an occupant capacity of 50 or more pupils or more than one classroom. A school district or county office of education may work with the Office of Emergency Services and the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission to develop and establish the earthquake emergency procedure system. The system shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(ia) A school building disaster plan, ready for implementation at any time, for maintaining the safety and care of pupils and staff. The department shall provide general direction to school districts and county offices of education on what to include in the school building disaster plan.

(ib) A drop procedure whereby each pupil and staff member takes cover under a table or desk, dropping to their knees, with the head protected by the arms, and the back to the windows. A drop procedure practice shall be held at least once a school quarter in elementary schools and at least once a semester in secondary schools.

(ic) Protective measures to be taken before, during, and following an earthquake.

(id) A program to ensure that pupils and both the certificated and classified staff are aware of, and properly trained in, the earthquake emergency procedure system.

(II) Establishing a procedure to allow a public agency, including the American Red Cross, to use school buildings, grounds, and equipment for mass care and welfare shelters during disasters or other emergencies affecting the public health and welfare. The school district or county office of education shall cooperate with the public agency in furnishing and maintaining the services as the school district or county office of education may deem necessary to meet the needs of the community.

(III) (ia) Commencing with the 2026–27 fiscal year, establishing a procedure to identify appropriate refuge shelter for all pupils and staff to be used in the event of an evacuation order by local authorities and notify the operational area having jurisdiction within the school’s boundaries of this identified refuge, in order to first prioritize the safety of pupils and staff, and then the defense of that structure in the event of a fire. Each public school, including a charter school, serving more than 50 pupils in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, that is in a high or very high fire hazard severity zone, identified pursuant to Section 51178 of the Government Code or Section 4204 of the Public Resources Code, shall coordinate the procedure with the operational area having jurisdiction within the school’s boundaries. For those schools under the jurisdiction of a school district or county office of education, the school district or county office of education shall be the entity that coordinates with the operational area having jurisdiction within each of the school’s boundaries.

(ib) Commencing with the 2026–27 fiscal year, the development by each public school, including a charter school, serving more than 50 pupils in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, that is in a high or very high fire hazard severity zone, identified pursuant to Section 51178 of the Government Code or Section 4204 of the Public Resources Code, of a communication and evacuation plan, to be used in the event of an early notice evacuation warning, that allows enough time to evacuate all pupils and staff. These plans shall clearly identify a decision process to determine whether an evacuation order is appropriate.

(ic) For purposes of this subclause, “operational area” means an intermediate level of the state emergency services organization, consisting of a county and all political subdivisions within the county area, that serves as a link in the system of communication and coordination between the state’s emergency operation centers and the operating centers of the political subdivisions that make up the operational area, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 8559 of the Government Code and Section 8605 of the Government Code.

(ii) The evaluation of a comprehensive school safety plan pursuant to subdivision (d) and the review of a school safety plan pursuant to clause (iii) of subparagraph (F) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (c) of Section 47605 or clause (iii) of subparagraph (G) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 47605.6, as applicable, shall include ensuring that the plan includes appropriate adaptations for pupils with disabilities, as required pursuant to clause (i).

(iii) (I) After the first evaluation or review, as applicable, for purposes of subdivision (d) and clause (ii) is conducted, and after each annual evaluation or review thereafter, a school employee, a pupil’s parent, guardian, or educational rights holder, or a pupil themselves may bring concerns about an individual pupil’s ability to access disaster safety procedures described in the comprehensive school safety plan or the school safety plan to the school principal. If the school principal determines there is merit to a concern, the principal shall direct the schoolsite council, school safety planning committee, or charter school, as applicable, to make appropriate modifications to the comprehensive school safety plan or school safety plan, as applicable, during the evaluation of the comprehensive school safety plan pursuant to subdivision (d) or the review of the school safety plan pursuant to clause (iii) of subparagraph (F) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (c) of Section 47605 or clause (iii) of subparagraph (G) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 47605.6, as applicable. The school principal may direct the schoolsite council, the school safety planning committee, or the charter school, as applicable, to make such modifications before the evaluation of the comprehensive school safety plan pursuant to subdivision (d) or the review of the school safety plan pursuant to clause (iii) of subparagraph (F) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (c) of Section 47605 or clause (iii) of subparagraph (G) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 47605.6, as applicable.

(II) Subclause (I) does not prohibit a school employee, a pupil’s parent, guardian, or educational rights holder, or a pupil themselves from bringing their concerns to the school principal before an evaluation or review, as applicable, for purposes of subdivision (d) and clause (ii) is conducted.

(iv) All deliberations of the schoolsite council, school safety planning committee, or charter school, as applicable, related to individual pupils with disabilities for purposes of the requirements of clauses (i) to (iii), inclusive, shall be subject to applicable state and federal laws regarding the privacy of pupil information.

(C) Policies pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 48915 for pupils who committed an act listed in subdivision (c) of Section 48915 and other school-designated serious acts that would lead to suspension, expulsion, or mandatory expulsion recommendations pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 48900) of Chapter 6 of Part 27 of Division 4 of Title 2.

(D) Procedures to notify teachers of dangerous pupils pursuant to Section 49079.

(E) A discrimination and harassment policy consistent with the prohibition against discrimination contained in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 200) of Part 1.

(F) The provisions of any schoolwide dress code, pursuant to Section 35183, that prohibits pupils from wearing “gang-related apparel,” if the school has adopted that type of a dress code. For those purposes, the comprehensive school safety plan shall define “gang-related apparel.” The definition shall be limited to apparel that, if worn or displayed on a school campus, reasonably could be determined to threaten the health and safety of the school environment. A schoolwide dress code established pursuant to this section and Section 35183 shall be enforced on the school campus and at any school-sponsored activity by the principal of the school or the person designated by the principal. For purposes of this subparagraph, “gang-related apparel” shall not be considered a protected form of speech pursuant to Section 48950.

(G) Procedures for safe ingress and egress of pupils, parents, and school employees to and from school.

(H) A safe and orderly environment conducive to learning at the school.

(I) The rules and procedures on school discipline adopted pursuant to Sections 35291, 35291.5, 47605, and 47605.6.

(J) Procedures for conducting tactical responses to criminal incidents, including procedures related to individuals with guns on school campuses and at school-related functions. The procedures to prepare for active shooters or other armed assailants shall be based on the specific needs and context of each school and community.

(K) If a comprehensive school safety plan includes procedures to prepare for active shooters or other armed assailants by conducting a drill, a school shall comply with all of the following relating to the drill:

(i) (I) The school shall not conduct a high-intensity drill.

(II) For purposes of this clause, “high-intensity drill” means a drill that includes simulations that mimic an actual school shooter or other armed assailant incident, including, but not limited to, theatrical makeup or other materials to give an image of blood or gunshot wounds, acting by an individual posing to be the assailant, acting by individuals posing as victims, or simulations that instruct pupils to actively resist an assailant by throwing objects, attacking, or swarming the assailant.

(ii) The school shall not include the use of real weapons, gunfire blanks, or explosions in the conducting of the drill.

(iii) The school shall ensure a trauma-informed approach to the design and execution of any drill, which shall include all of the following:

(I) Age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate drill content and terminology developed with the involvement of school personnel, including school-based mental health professionals.

(II) Notice to all parents and guardians of pupils, teachers, administrators, and school personnel subject to the drills in advance of the drill and of the drill’s expected length of time.

(III) The ability for parents or guardians to opt their child or children out of the drills.

(IV) An announcement to pupils and educators immediately before the start of the drills and an announcement to pupils and educators immediately after the drills have concluded.

(V) A notice to all parents and guardians after the drill has concluded.

(VI) The provision of contact information for community-based resources, including local organizations with objectives to reduce gun violence or provide mental health counseling, to parents or guardians, pupils, and staff who are negatively impacted by the drills, and, where available, prioritizing school-based resources.

(L) Procedures to assess and respond to reports of any dangerous, violent, or unlawful activity that is being conducted or threatened to be conducted at the school, at an activity sponsored by the school, or on a schoolbus serving the school.

(M) (i) When a comprehensive school safety plan is next reviewed and updated on or after July 1, 2025, procedures to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening medical emergency while on school grounds.

(ii) The procedures described in clause (i) are encouraged to integrate evidence-based core elements, including any cardiopulmonary resuscitation training offered and the placement of any automated external defibrillator available on the schoolsite in accordance with nationally recognized evidence-based emergency cardiac care guidelines, as dictated by the school safety plan.

(N) (i) When a comprehensive school safety plan is next reviewed and updated, but by no later than March 1, 2026, procedures specifically designed to notify parents and guardians of pupils, teachers, administrators, and school personnel when the school confirms the presence of immigration enforcement on the schoolsite.

(ii) The content and timing of a notification provided under the procedures in clause (i) shall consider the safety and well-being of the pupils, employees, and community members of the schoolsite when determining when and how to issue the notification to parents and guardians of pupils, teachers, administrators, and school personnel.

(iii) The notification provided under the procedures in clause (i) may also include a hyperlink to additional resources for families with information about their educational rights, state laws that protects parents’ and students’ privacy and confidentiality, and, if available, counseling or support services, which may include services that support families impacted by immigration enforcement and model policies adopted by the local educational agency pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 234.7.

(iv) A notification provided under the procedures in clause (i) shall not include any personally identifiable information.

(v) For purposes of this subparagraph, “immigration enforcement” includes any and all efforts to investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of any federal civil immigration law, and also includes any and all efforts to investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of any federal criminal immigration law that penalizes a person’s presence in, entry, or reentry to, or employment in, the United States.

(O) For schools that serve pupils in any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, a protocol in the event a pupil is suffering or is reasonably believed to be suffering from an opioid overdose.

(3) (A) Beginning July 1, 2025, an instructional continuity plan to establish communication with pupils and their families and provide instruction to pupils when in-person instruction is disrupted due to an emergency pursuant to Section 41422 or subdivision (a) of Section 46392. The plan shall include all the following:

(i) Procedures for pupil engagement, as soon as practicable, and no later than five calendar days following the emergency. Procedures shall be designed to establish two-way communication with pupils and their families and identify and provide supports for pupils’ social-emotional, mental health, and academic needs.

(ii) A plan to provide access to in-person instruction or remote instruction pursuant to Sections 51747 and 51749.5, as soon as practicable, but no later than 10 instructional days following the emergency. The plan may include support to pupils and families to enroll in or be temporarily reassigned to another school district, county office of education, or charter school.

(B) Local educational agencies are encouraged to plan to meet instructional standards that are at least equivalent to those applicable to independent study programs.

(C) (i) For purposes of this paragraph, “temporarily reassigned” means temporarily reassigned to another local educational agency outside of the school district, but within the county or an immediately adjacent county, in which the pupil’s parent or guardian resides. Notwithstanding Section 48200 or any other law, a pupil who is temporarily reassigned shall be deemed to have complied with the residency requirements for attendance in the local educational agency that is temporarily serving the pupil pursuant to this section.

(ii) Notwithstanding Section 48200 or any other law, a school district, county office of education, or charter school may continue to enroll a pupil who is temporarily reassigned to another school district, county office of education, or charter school pursuant to this section in order to facilitate the timely reentry of the pupil in their prior school after the emergency event has ended.

(D) This paragraph applies to school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that schools develop comprehensive school safety plans using existing resources, including the materials and services of the partnership, pursuant to this chapter. It is also the intent of the Legislature that schools use the handbook developed and distributed in partnership by the department’s Safe Schools and Violence Prevention Center and the Attorney General’s Crime and Violence Prevention Center entitled “Safe Schools: A Planning Guide for Action” in conjunction with developing their plan for school safety.

(c) Each schoolsite council or school safety planning committee, in developing and updating a comprehensive school safety plan, shall, where practical, consult, cooperate, and coordinate with other schoolsite councils or school safety planning committees.

(d) The comprehensive school safety plan may be evaluated and amended, as needed, by the school safety planning committee, but shall be evaluated at least once a year, to ensure that the comprehensive school safety plan is properly implemented. An updated file of all safety-related plans and materials shall be readily available for inspection by the public.

(e) As comprehensive school safety plans are reviewed and updated, the Legislature encourages all plans, to the extent that resources are available, to include policies and procedures aimed at the prevention of bullying.

(f) The comprehensive school safety plan, as written and updated by the schoolsite council or school safety planning committee, shall be submitted for approval pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 32288.

(g) The department shall maintain and conspicuously post on its internet website a compliance checklist for developing a comprehensive school safety plan, and shall update the checklist when necessary.

(h) On or before March 1, 2025, the Superintendent shall develop and post on the department’s internet website instructional continuity plan guidance, including guidance for continued academic and school engagement strategies during disruptions in instruction due to emergencies.

(i) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2031, and as of that date is repealed.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 460, Sec. 4.5. (SB 848) Effective January 1, 2026. Operative January 1, 2026, pursuant to Sec. 15 of Stats. 2025, Ch. 460. Repealed as of January 1, 2031, by its own provisions. See later operative version, as amended by Sec. 4 of Stats. 2025, Ch. 460.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. School Safety Plans


text:
(a) The comprehensive school safety plan shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) Assessing the current status of crime committed on school campuses and at school-related functions.

(2) Identifying appropriate strategies and programs that will provide or maintain a high level of school safety and address the school’s procedures for complying with existing laws related to school safety, which shall include the development of all of the following:

(A) (i) Child abuse or neglect reporting procedures consistent with Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11164) of Chapter 2 of Title 1 of Part 4 of the Penal Code.

(ii) When a comprehensive school safety plan is next reviewed and updated, or by no later than July 1, 2026, procedures specifically designed to address the supervision and protection of children from child abuse or neglect or sex offenses.

(B) (i) Disaster procedures, routine and emergency, including adaptations for pupils with disabilities in accordance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.), and Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 794(a)). The disaster procedures shall also include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(I) Establishing an earthquake emergency procedure system in every public school building having an occupant capacity of 50 or more pupils or more than one classroom. A school district or county office of education may work with the Office of Emergency Services and the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission to develop and establish the earthquake emergency procedure system. The system shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(ia) A school building disaster plan, ready for implementation at any time, for maintaining the safety and care of pupils and staff. The department shall provide general direction to school districts and county offices of education on what to include in the school building disaster plan.

(ib) A drop procedure whereby each pupil and staff member takes cover under a table or desk, dropping to their knees, with the head protected by the arms, and the back to the windows. A drop procedure practice shall be held at least once a school quarter in elementary schools and at least once a semester in secondary schools.

(ic) Protective measures to be taken before, during, and following an earthquake.

(id) A program to ensure that pupils and both the certificated and classified staff are aware of, and properly trained in, the earthquake emergency procedure system.

(II) Establishing a procedure to allow a public agency, including the American Red Cross, to use school buildings, grounds, and equipment for mass care and welfare shelters during disasters or other emergencies affecting the public health and welfare. The school district or county office of education shall cooperate with the public agency in furnishing and maintaining the services as the school district or county office of education may deem necessary to meet the needs of the community.

(III) (ia) Commencing with the 2026–27 fiscal year, establishing a procedure to identify appropriate refuge shelter for all pupils and staff to be used in the event of an evacuation order by local authorities and notify the operational area having jurisdiction within the school’s boundaries of this identified refuge, in order to first prioritize the safety of pupils and staff, and then the defense of that structure in the event of a fire. Each public school, including a charter school, serving more than 50 pupils in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, that is in a high or very high fire hazard severity zone, identified pursuant to Section 51178 of the Government Code or Section 4204 of the Public Resources Code, shall coordinate the procedure with the operational area having jurisdiction within the school’s boundaries. For those schools under the jurisdiction of a school district or county office of education, the school district or county office of education shall be the entity that coordinates with the operational area having jurisdiction within each of the school’s boundaries.

(ib) Commencing with the 2026–27 fiscal year, the development by each public school, including a charter school, serving more than 50 pupils in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, that is in a high or very high fire hazard severity zone, identified pursuant to Section 51178 of the Government Code or Section 4204 of the Public Resources Code, of a communication and evacuation plan, to be used in the event of an early notice evacuation warning, that allows enough time to evacuate all pupils and staff. These plans shall clearly identify a decision process to determine whether an evacuation order is appropriate.

(ic) For purposes of this subclause, “operational area” means an intermediate level of the state emergency services organization, consisting of a county and all political subdivisions within the county area, that serves as a link in the system of communication and coordination between the state’s emergency operation centers and the operating centers of the political subdivisions that make up the operational area, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 8559 of the Government Code and Section 8605 of the Government Code.

(ii) The evaluation of a comprehensive school safety plan pursuant to subdivision (d) and the review of a school safety plan pursuant to clause (iii) of subparagraph (F) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (c) of Section 47605 or clause (iii) of subparagraph (G) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 47605.6, as applicable, shall include ensuring that the plan includes appropriate adaptations for pupils with disabilities, as required pursuant to clause (i).

(iii) (I) After the first evaluation or review, as applicable, for purposes of subdivision (d) and clause (ii) is conducted, and after each annual evaluation or review thereafter, a school employee, a pupil’s parent, guardian, or educational rights holder, or a pupil themselves may bring concerns about an individual pupil’s ability to access disaster safety procedures described in the comprehensive school safety plan or the school safety plan to the school principal. If the school principal determines there is merit to a concern, the principal shall direct the schoolsite council, school safety planning committee, or charter school, as applicable, to make appropriate modifications to the comprehensive school safety plan or school safety plan, as applicable, during the evaluation of the comprehensive school safety plan pursuant to subdivision (d) or the review of the school safety plan pursuant to clause (iii) of subparagraph (F) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (c) of Section 47605 or clause (iii) of subparagraph (G) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 47605.6, as applicable. The school principal may direct the schoolsite council, the school safety planning committee, or the charter school, as applicable, to make such modifications before the evaluation of the comprehensive school safety plan pursuant to subdivision (d) or the review of the school safety plan pursuant to clause (iii) of subparagraph (F) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (c) of Section 47605 or clause (iii) of subparagraph (G) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 47605.6, as applicable.

(II) Subclause (I) does not prohibit a school employee, a pupil’s parent, guardian, or educational rights holder, or a pupil themselves from bringing their concerns to the school principal before an evaluation or review, as applicable, for purposes of subdivision (d) and clause (ii) is conducted.

(iv) All deliberations of the schoolsite council, school safety planning committee, or charter school, as applicable, related to individual pupils with disabilities for purposes of the requirements of clauses (i) to (iii), inclusive, shall be subject to applicable state and federal laws regarding the privacy of pupil information.

(C) Policies pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 48915 for pupils who committed an act listed in subdivision (c) of Section 48915 and other school-designated serious acts that would lead to suspension, expulsion, or mandatory expulsion recommendations pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 48900) of Chapter 6 of Part 27 of Division 4 of Title 2.

(D) Procedures to notify teachers of dangerous pupils pursuant to Section 49079.

(E) A discrimination and harassment policy consistent with the prohibition against discrimination contained in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 200) of Part 1.

(F) The provisions of any schoolwide dress code, pursuant to Section 35183, that prohibits pupils from wearing “gang-related apparel,” if the school has adopted that type of a dress code. For those purposes, the comprehensive school safety plan shall define “gang-related apparel.” The definition shall be limited to apparel that, if worn or displayed on a school campus, reasonably could be determined to threaten the health and safety of the school environment. A schoolwide dress code established pursuant to this section and Section 35183 shall be enforced on the school campus and at any school-sponsored activity by the principal of the school or the person designated by the principal. For purposes of this subparagraph, “gang-related apparel” shall not be considered a protected form of speech pursuant to Section 48950.

(G) Procedures for safe ingress and egress of pupils, parents, and school employees to and from school.

(H) A safe and orderly environment conducive to learning at the school.

(I) The rules and procedures on school discipline adopted pursuant to Sections 35291, 35291.5, 47605, and 47605.6.

(J) Procedures for conducting tactical responses to criminal incidents, including procedures related to individuals with guns on school campuses and at school-related functions. The procedures to prepare for active shooters or other armed assailants shall be based on the specific needs and context of each school and community.

(K) If a comprehensive school safety plan includes procedures to prepare for active shooters or other armed assailants by conducting a drill, a school shall comply with all of the following relating to the drill:

(i) (I) The school shall not conduct a high-intensity drill.

(II) For purposes of this clause, “high-intensity drill” means a drill that includes simulations that mimic an actual school shooter or other armed assailant incident, including, but not limited to, theatrical makeup or other materials to give an image of blood or gunshot wounds, acting by an individual posing to be the assailant, acting by individuals posing as victims, or simulations that instruct pupils to actively resist an assailant by throwing objects, attacking, or swarming the assailant.

(ii) The school shall not include the use of real weapons, gunfire blanks, or explosions in the conducting of the drill.

(iii) The school shall ensure a trauma-informed approach to the design and execution of any drill, which shall include all of the following:

(I) Age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate drill content and terminology developed with the involvement of school personnel, including school-based mental health professionals.

(II) Notice to all parents and guardians of pupils, teachers, administrators, and school personnel subject to the drills in advance of the drill and of the drill’s expected length of time.

(III) The ability for parents or guardians to opt their child or children out of the drills.

(IV) An announcement to pupils and educators immediately before the start of the drills and an announcement to pupils and educators immediately after the drills have concluded.

(V) A notice to all parents and guardians after the drill has concluded.

(VI) The provision of contact information for community-based resources, including local organizations with objectives to reduce gun violence or provide mental health counseling, to parents or guardians, pupils, and staff who are negatively impacted by the drills, and, where available, prioritizing school-based resources.

(L) Procedures to assess and respond to reports of any dangerous, violent, or unlawful activity that is being conducted or threatened to be conducted at the school, at an activity sponsored by the school, or on a schoolbus serving the school.

(M) (i) When a comprehensive school safety plan is next reviewed and updated on or after July 1, 2025, procedures to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening medical emergency while on school grounds.

(ii) The procedures described in clause (i) are encouraged to integrate evidence-based core elements, including any cardiopulmonary resuscitation training offered and the placement of any automated external defibrillator available on the schoolsite in accordance with nationally recognized evidence-based emergency cardiac care guidelines, as dictated by the school safety plan.

(N) For schools that serve pupils in any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, a protocol in the event a pupil is suffering or is reasonably believed to be suffering from an opioid overdose.

(3) (A) Beginning July 1, 2025, an instructional continuity plan to establish communication with pupils and their families and provide instruction to pupils when in-person instruction is disrupted due to an emergency pursuant to Section 41422 or subdivision (a) of Section 46392. The plan shall include all the following:

(i) Procedures for pupil engagement, as soon as practicable, and no later than five calendar days following the emergency. Procedures shall be designed to establish two-way communication with pupils and their families and identify and provide supports for pupils’ social-emotional, mental health, and academic needs.

(ii) A plan to provide access to in-person instruction or remote instruction pursuant to Sections 51747 and 51749.5, as soon as practicable, but no later than 10 instructional days following the emergency. The plan may include support to pupils and families to enroll in or be temporarily reassigned to another school district, county office of education, or charter school.

(B) Local educational agencies are encouraged to plan to meet instructional standards that are at least equivalent to those applicable to independent study programs.

(C) (i) For purposes of this paragraph, “temporarily reassigned” means temporarily reassigned to another local educational agency outside of the school district, but within the county or an immediately adjacent county, in which the pupil’s parent or guardian resides. Notwithstanding Section 48200 or any other law, a pupil who is temporarily reassigned shall be deemed to have complied with the residency requirements for attendance in the local educational agency that is temporarily serving the pupil pursuant to this section.

(ii) Notwithstanding Section 48200 or any other law, a school district, county office of education, or charter school may continue to enroll a pupil who is temporarily reassigned to another school district, county office of education, or charter school pursuant to this section in order to facilitate the timely reentry of the pupil in their prior school after the emergency event has ended.

(D) This paragraph applies to school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that schools develop comprehensive school safety plans using existing resources, including the materials and services of the partnership, pursuant to this chapter. It is also the intent of the Legislature that schools use the handbook developed and distributed in partnership by the department’s Safe Schools and Violence Prevention Center and the Attorney General’s Crime and Violence Prevention Center entitled “Safe Schools: A Planning Guide for Action” in conjunction with developing their plan for school safety.

(c) Each schoolsite council or school safety planning committee, in developing and updating a comprehensive school safety plan, shall, where practical, consult, cooperate, and coordinate with other schoolsite councils or school safety planning committees.

(d) The comprehensive school safety plan may be evaluated and amended, as needed, by the school safety planning committee, but shall be evaluated at least once a year, to ensure that the comprehensive school safety plan is properly implemented. An updated file of all safety-related plans and materials shall be readily available for inspection by the public.

(e) As comprehensive school safety plans are reviewed and updated, the Legislature encourages all plans, to the extent that resources are available, to include policies and procedures aimed at the prevention of bullying.

(f) The comprehensive school safety plan, as written and updated by the schoolsite council or school safety planning committee, shall be submitted for approval pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 32288.

(g) The department shall maintain and conspicuously post on its internet website a compliance checklist for developing a comprehensive school safety plan, and shall update the checklist when necessary.

(h) On or before March 1, 2025, the Superintendent shall develop and post on the department’s internet website instructional continuity plan guidance, including guidance for continued academic and school engagement strategies during disruptions in instruction due to emergencies.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 460, Sec. 4. (SB 848) Effective January 1, 2026. Operative January 1, 2031, pursuant to Sec. 15 of Stats. 2025, Ch. 460.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. School Safety Plans


text:
(a) As comprehensive school safety plans are reviewed and updated, the Legislature encourages all plans, to the extent that resources are available, to include clear guidelines for the roles and responsibilities of mental health professionals, community intervention professionals, school counselors, school resource officers, and police officers on school campuses, if the school district uses these people.

(b) The guidelines developed pursuant to subdivision (a) are encouraged to include both of the following:

(1) Primary strategies to create and maintain a positive school climate, promote school safety, and increase pupil achievement, and prioritize mental health and intervention services, restorative and transformative justice programs, and positive behavior interventions and support.

(2) Consistent with paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 32282, protocols to address the mental health care of pupils who have witnessed a violent act at any time, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(A) While on school grounds.

(B) While going to or coming from school.

(C) During a lunch period whether on or off campus.

(D) During, or while going to or coming from, a school-sponsored activity.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 794, Sec. 2. (AB 1271) Effective January 1, 2015.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. School Safety Plans


text:
(a) The department shall electronically distribute disaster preparedness educational materials and lesson plans that are currently available to school districts and county offices of education.

(b) The department shall ensure that the disaster preparedness materials are available in at least the three most dominant primary languages spoken by English learners in California, according to the language census.

(c) The department shall coordinate with the Office of Emergency Services to make sure that all materials are reviewed and updated annually.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 352, Sec. 70. (AB 1317) Effective September 26, 2013. Operative July 1, 2013, by Sec. 543 of Ch. 352.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. School Safety Plans


text: The Department of Justice and the State Department of Education, in accordance with Section 32262, shall contract with one or more professional trainers to coordinate statewide workshops for school districts, county offices of education, and schoolsite personnel, and in particular school principals, to assist them in the development of their respective school safety and crisis response plans, and provide training in the prevention of bullying as defined in subdivision (r) of Section 48900. The Department of Justice and the State Department of Education shall work in cooperation with regard to the workshops coordinated and presented pursuant to the contracts. Implementation of this section shall be contingent upon the availability of funds in the annual Budget Act.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 732, Sec. 4. (AB 1156) Effective January 1, 2012. Operative July 1, 2012, by Sec. 8 of Ch. 732.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. School Safety Plans


text:
(a) (1) The department shall develop and post on its internet website an online training module to assist all school staff, school administrators, parents, pupils, and community members in increasing their knowledge of the dynamics of bullying and cyberbullying. The online training module shall include, but is not limited to, identifying an act of bullying or cyberbullying and implementing strategies to address bullying and cyberbullying.

(2) The online training module developed pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include information about how to support pupils who are bullied for being or being perceived as neurodivergent and include links to the resources related to neurodiversity developed by the University of California and California State University Collaborative for Neurodiversity and Learning.

(b) The department shall post on its internet website and annually update a list of available online training modules relating to bullying or bullying prevention.

(c) A school operated by a school district or a county office of education and a charter school shall annually make available the online training module developed by the department pursuant to subdivision (a) to certificated schoolsite employees and all other schoolsite employees who have regular interaction with pupils.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 907, Sec. 3. (SB 939) Effective January 1, 2025.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. School Safety Plans


text: The comprehensive school safety plan may also include, at local discretion of the governing board of the school district and using local funds, procedures for responding to the release of a pesticide or other toxic substance from properties located within one-quarter mile of a school. No funds received from the state may be used for this purpose.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 35294.4 by Stats. 2003, Ch. 828, Sec. 16. Effective January 1, 2004.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. School Safety Plans


text:
(a) Each school shall adopt its comprehensive school safety plan by March 1, 2000, and shall review and update its plan by March 1, every year thereafter. A new school campus that begins offering classes to pupils after March 1, 2001, shall adopt a comprehensive school safety plan within one year of initiating operation, and shall review and update its plan by March 1, every year thereafter.

(b) Commencing in July 2000, and every July thereafter, each school shall report on the status of its school safety plan, including a description of its key elements in the annual school accountability report card prepared pursuant to Sections 33126 and 35256.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 35294.6 by Stats. 2003, Ch. 828, Sec. 18. Effective January 1, 2004.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. School Safety Plans


text:
If the Superintendent of Public Instruction determines that there has been a willful failure to make any report required by this article, the superintendent shall do both of the following:

(a) Notify the school district or the county office of education in which the willful failure has occurred.

(b) Make an assessment of not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) against that school district or county office of education. This may be accomplished by deducting an amount equal to the amount of the assessment from the school district’s or county office of education’s future apportionment.

history: (History: Added by renumbering Section 35294.7 by Stats. 2003, Ch. 828, Sec. 19.5. Effective January 1, 2004.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. School Safety Plans


text:
(a) (1) In order to ensure compliance with this article, each school shall forward its comprehensive school safety plan to the school district or county office of education for approval.

(2) The department shall develop and post on its Internet Web site best practices for reviewing and approving school safety plans.

(b) (1) Before adopting its comprehensive school safety plan, the schoolsite council or school safety planning committee shall hold a public meeting at the schoolsite in order to allow members of the public the opportunity to express an opinion about the school safety plan.

(2) The schoolsite council or school safety planning committee shall notify, in writing, the following persons and entities, if available, of the public meeting:

(A) The local mayor.

(B) A representative of the local school employee organization.

(C) A representative of each parent organization at the schoolsite, including the parent teacher association and parent teacher clubs.

(D) A representative of each teacher organization at the schoolsite.

(E) A representative of the student body government.

(F) All persons who have indicated they want to be notified.

(3) The schoolsite council or school safety planning committee is encouraged to notify, in writing, the following persons and entities, if available, of the public meeting:

(A) A representative of the local churches.

(B) Local civic leaders.

(C) Local business organizations.

(c) In order to ensure compliance with this article, each school district or county office of education shall annually notify the department by October 15 of any schools that have not complied with Section 32281.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 806, Sec. 4. (AB 1747) Effective January 1, 2019.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. School Safety Plans


text: A complaint of noncompliance with the school safety planning requirements of Title IV of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 7114 (d)(7)) may be filed with the department under the Uniform Complaint Procedures as set forth in Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 4600) of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.

history: (History: Amended (as added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 896, Sec. 29) by Stats. 2015, Ch. 303, Sec. 70. (AB 731) Effective January 1, 2016.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. School Safety Plans


text:
(a) The department shall collect, and local educational agencies shall provide, data pertaining to lockdown or multioption response drills conducted at schoolsites within school districts, county offices of education and charter schools providing instructional services to pupils in kindergarten or in any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive. The data may be collected from a representative sample of schoolsites, with a methodology to be determined by the Superintendent. Specifically, the department shall collect data including, but not limited to, all of the following information:

(1) The portion of schoolsites conducting drills and the population they serve.

(2) The types of drills performed and their frequency.

(3) Information about staff training in preparation for drills.

(4) Information pertaining to schoolsite evaluations, if any, of the drill impacts.

(5) Information pertaining to staff and parental notifications of drills.

(b) The department shall either conduct, or contract with a nonprofit research entity to conduct, a study that identifies best practices for age-appropriate drills, the effectiveness of lockdown or multioption response drills in schools, and the effects drills have on pupil emotional wellbeing and emergency preparedness.

(c) (1) The department shall submit to the Governor and relevant policy committees of the Legislature on or before November 1, 2021, a report containing data collected pursuant to subdivision (a) and findings and recommendations from the study conducted pursuant to subdivision (b).

(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this subdivision shall become inoperative on November 1, 2025.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 786, Sec. 1. (SB 541) Effective January 1, 2020.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. School Safety Plans


text:
(a) On or before June 15, 2025, the department shall curate and post on its internet website best practices pertaining to school shooter or other armed assailant drills, including, but not limited to, guidance for age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate drills, including age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate language, and staff training tools pertaining to school shooter or other armed assailant drills, for use by school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools providing instructional services to pupils in kindergarten or in any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.

(b) A school district, county office of education, and charter school is encouraged to comply with all the best practices established by the department pursuant subdivision (a).

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 530, Sec. 3. (AB 1858) Effective January 1, 2025.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. School Safety Plans


text: The partnership shall discuss with providers of telephone equipment and services, and shall acquire information regarding, the availability of no-cost or reduced-cost cellular telephones and services to be provided on a statewide basis to each public school teacher for use as a classroom safety device. Although the primary purpose of providing the cellular telephones is school safety, a teacher receiving a cellular telephone as a result of these discussions, shall be encouraged to use the cellular telephone for school related purposes other than school safety. These purposes would include purposes that further the smooth administration of general classroom and school functions, including, but not limited to, communicating with parents about a pupil’s education, communication with pupils about classwork and homework assignments, and communicating with other teachers and school administrators about school operations generally. Thus, the discussions between the partnership and the providers shall include the availability of no-cost or reduced-cost services in consideration of the complete usage contemplated pursuant to this section. The partnership shall ensure that each school district, county office of education, schoolsite council, and school safety planning committee developing a school safety plan pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 32280) is provided with information regarding the availability of the no-cost or reduced-cost cellular telephones and services for consideration in developing its plan.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 828, Sec. 22. Effective January 1, 2004.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5.3. Safety Devices

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 19. MISCELLANEOUS > 2.5. Interagency School Safety Demonstration Act of 1985 > 5.3. Safety Devices


text: The School Law Enforcement Partnership, established pursuant to Section 32262, shall provide information to school districts and county offices of education about teen or peer court programs. A teen or peer court program shall include, but not be limited to, any program in which juvenile court judges preside over a court in which the defendant is a pupil with no prior criminal record, who is charged with a nonviolent crime and in which the jurors are also pupils.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 607, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1995.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5.5. Teen Court Program

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 19. MISCELLANEOUS > 2.5. Interagency School Safety Demonstration Act of 1985 > 5.5. Teen Court Program


text: All printing or binding required by the Superintendent of Public Instruction or the State Board of Education, or by any educational institution, except the California Community Colleges and the University of California, supported entirely out of state funds, and all school registers and blank forms prescribed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the use of officers charged with the administration of the laws relating to the public schools, including blank teachers’ certificates, and diplomas of graduation from elementary schools in districts not governed by city boards of education, shall be performed by the Department of General Services in the form and manner and at the prices of other state printing, and be paid for in like manner.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1372, Sec. 182.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

chapter: 3. Miscellaneous

article: 1. Printing and Binding

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 19. MISCELLANEOUS > 3. Miscellaneous > 1. Printing and Binding


text: No printing concern, institution, or other agency maintaining a printing plant or department for the purpose of instruction or the teaching of the art of printing, or allied arts, and whose purpose is to teach or instruct its students or members, shall produce, print, or cause to be printed any material whatsoever that may be placed on the market in competition with regularly established printing plants or concerns, if such printing concern, institution, or other agency is supported or operated from public or state funds or is tax free in any manner.

history: (History: Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Printing Schools

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 19. MISCELLANEOUS > 3. Miscellaneous > 2. Printing Schools


text:
This article does not apply to:

(a) Any institution classified as an educational institution within the meaning and intent of Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States or of Section 23701d of the Revenue and Taxation Code and that, nevertheless, pays general state and county taxes within this state upon any printing plant and printing equipment owned by it.

(b) The production of forms, materials, and supplies at any state educational institution under the exclusive management and control of the state and authorized by law.

(c) Any publication, printed and produced at any state educational institution under the exclusive management and control of the state for the dissemination of technical or scientific information and that is sold at cost.

(d) Printing which may be classified as “instruction” or “student activity.”

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 185, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2004.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Printing Schools


text: The violation of this article is a misdemeanor.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 2. Printing Schools


text: The boards of supervisors of any county may appropriate and use county funds for the support and maintenance of extension work in agriculture and home economics. The extension work shall be designed for the benefit of the respective counties and conducted under the approval of the United States Department of Agriculture and in cooperation with the University of California.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 4. Use of County Funds for Agriculture

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 19. MISCELLANEOUS > 3. Miscellaneous > 4. Use of County Funds for Agriculture


text: Any state, county, or city and county superintendent, or any state, county, or city and county board of education, who issues a credential, except as provided by law, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Unlawful Issuance of a Credential

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 19. MISCELLANEOUS > 3. Miscellaneous > 5. Unlawful Issuance of a Credential


text: Except where such service is provided by a school district pursuant to Section 44332.5, each county or city and county board of education may provide for the registration of any valid certification or other document authorizing the holder thereof to serve in a position requiring certification qualifications as an employee of the county superintendent of schools of such county or city and county or of a school district under the jurisdiction of such county superintendent of schools.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 251, Sec. 6. Effective June 11, 1982.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 5. Unlawful Issuance of a Credential


text:
Any person, corporation, firm, or public entity, or employee thereof, who gratuitously loans equipment of any description or the services of an employee to a school district or community college district shall not be liable, and the school district or community college district shall be liable, for damages because of personal injuries to, or the death of any person or damage to property resulting from the operation of such equipment or an act or omission of such employee occurring while such equipment or employee is under the supervision and control of the district.

This section does not apply to any person, corporation, firm, or public entity who gratuitously loans mechanically defective equipment of any description or who gratuitously loans the services of an employee who is not fully qualified to perform such service, and such defect or lack of qualification is the cause of any damage or injury.

An employee whose services are loaned to a school district or community college district pursuant to this section remains an employee of his employer for all purposes, including the application of the provisions of the Labor Code relating to workmen’s compensation.

For the purposes of this section, “public entity” includes the state, the Regents of the University of California, a county, city, city and county, district, public authority, public agency, or any other political subdivision or public corporation in this state.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 19. MISCELLANEOUS > 3. Miscellaneous > 6. District Liability on Loaned Equipment


text: No funds shall be expended by a school district, a community college district, a county board of education, or a county superintendent of schools to secure a copyright for any person or firm, but nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the governing board of any school district, community college district, or county board of education from securing copyrights, in the name of the district or board, to all copyrightable works developed by the district or board.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 7. Copyright Laws

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 19. MISCELLANEOUS > 3. Miscellaneous > 7. Copyright Laws


text: A school district, a community college district, a county board of education, or a county superintendent of schools shall not use the regular worktime of any employee to secure a copyright for any person or firm, but nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the governing board of any school district, community college district, or county board of education from securing copyrights, in the name of the district or board, to all copyrightable works developed by the district or board.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 7. Copyright Laws


text:
The Legislature finds and declares that is the policy of the state to conserve and protect its resources. The maintenance of a quality environment for the people of this state now and in the future is a matter of statewide concern.

The Legislature further finds and declares that the volume of solid waste generated within the state coupled with an increased rate in the consumption of paper products and the absence of adequate programs and procedures for the reuse of these materials threaten the quality of the environment and well-being of the people of California.

In making these findings the Legislature declares that the policy and intent of this article is to increase the public’s awareness of the value of recycling and the need to recycle, and to improve environmental quality by the recycling of paper products.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1978, Ch. 885.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 8. Recycling Paper

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 19. MISCELLANEOUS > 3. Miscellaneous > 8. Recycling Paper


text:
The following definitions govern the interpretation of this article:

(a) “Educational agency” means any school district, county office of education, or campus of the California State University and Colleges.

(b) “Paper recycling program” means, (1) the provision of specially marked containers which are intended to receive either all grades or only some grades of postconsumer wastepaper but which are not intended to receive other forms of postconsumer waste, (2) publicity directed at all persons who frequent buildings with the containers encouraging those persons to deposit wastepaper in the containers, and (3) the collection of all paper deposited in the containers for the purpose of recycling.

(c) “Postconsumer waste” means a finished material which would normally be disposed of as solid waste, having completed its life cycle as a consumer item.

(d) “Recycled paper” means all paper and woodpulp products with not less than 50 percent of its total weight consisting of secondary and postconsumer waste and with not less than 10 percent of its total weight consisting of postconsumer waste.

(e) “Secondary waste” means fragments of products or finished products of a manufacturing process which has converted a virgin resource into a commodity of real economic value, and includes postconsumer waste, but does not include mill broke, wood slabs, chips, sawdust, or other wood residue from a manufacturing process.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1372, Sec. 183.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 8. Recycling Paper


text:
(a) Each school district may, and is encouraged to, establish and maintain a paper recycling program in all classrooms, administrative offices, and other areas owned or leased by the school district where a significant quantity of wastepaper is generated or may be collected.

(b) Each campus of the California State University and Colleges may, and is encouraged to, establish and maintain a paper recycling program in administration offices and other areas owned or leased by the campus, including areas frequented by students, where a significant quantity of wastepaper is generated or may be collected.

(c) In establishing paper recycling programs, school districts, and campuses of the California State University and Colleges shall attempt to cooperate with existing paper recycling programs.

(d) Nothing in this article shall limit or supersede any other requirement of law imposing a paper recycling program on school districts or the California State University and Colleges.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1372, Sec. 184.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 8. Recycling Paper


text:
(a) Each educational agency is encouraged to purchase recycled paper if the supplier of recycled paper offers the paper at a cost which does not exceed by more than 5 percent the lowest offer of nonrecycled paper of comparable quality.

(b) Whenever an educational agency purchases recycled paper, the educational agency shall purchase the paper with the highest percentage of postconsumer waste, if the price and quality of the recycled paper are otherwise equal.

(c) Whenever it is practical to do so, each educational agency shall revise its procurement specifications to eliminate discrimination against recycled paper and to give preference to the purchase of recycled paper.

(d) Each educational agency shall make all reasonable efforts to eliminate the purchase of paper and paper products which are deemed potential contaminants of the educational agency’s paper recycling program.

(e) When contracting with any educational agency for the sale of a paper product, the contractor shall certify in writing to the contracting officer or the officer’s representative the percentage of secondary and postconsumer waste in the paper product and whether or not such percentages meet the minimum percentages specified in subdivision (d) of Section 32371. Such certification shall be furnished under penalty of perjury.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 8. Recycling Paper


text:
The State Solid Waste Management Board, in conjunction with the Department of Education and other state agencies which the board and the Department of Education deem appropriate in order to carry out the purposes of this article, shall coordinate the implementation of this article and shall provide materials, technical assistance, and other resources as it deems necessary to aid and encourage educational agencies to establish paper recycling programs.

The State Solid Waste Management Board may enter into agreements with other agencies for the purpose of the administration and implementation of this article.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 8. Recycling Paper


text: The State Solid Waste Management Board, in conjunction with the Department of Education and other agencies which the board and the Department of Education deem to be appropriate in order to carry out the purposes of this article, shall develop and distribute curriculum material relating to paper recycling, conservation of resources, and topics relating to the implementation of the program established by this article.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 8. Recycling Paper


text:
As used in this article:

(a) “Person” means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, firm, or public board, agency, or entity.

(b) “Prepare” means to put into condition for intended use.

(c) “Degree” means any “academic degree” or “honorary degree” or title of any designation, mark, appellation, series of letters or words such as, but not limited to, associate, bachelor, master, doctor, or fellow which signifies, purports, or is generally taken to signify satisfactory completion of the requirements of an academic, educational, technological, or professional program of study or is an honorary title conferred for recognition of some meritorious achievement.

(d) “Diploma” means any diploma, certificate, transcript, document, or other writing in any language other than a degree representing that an individual has completed any course of study.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1010, Sec. 96. Effective January 1, 1995.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 9. Prohibited Activities

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 19. MISCELLANEOUS > 3. Miscellaneous > 9. Prohibited Activities


text:
Any person who prepares, manufactures, or prints, or who offers to prepare, manufacture, or print, for a fee or other compensation, any document purporting to be a degree or diploma without written authorization to do so from the school authority shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. As used in this section, “school authority” means any of the following:

(a) A governing board of a school district that issued or reissued the degree or diploma, as the case may be.

(b) A private school that issued or reissued the degree or diploma, as the case may be.

(c) Any public or private college, university, or other institution of higher learning that issued or reissued the degree or diploma, as the case may be.

Nothing in this section shall prohibit a person from reproducing, or having reproduced, for his personal use a degree or diploma issued to him by a school authority.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1979, Ch. 373.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 9. Prohibited Activities


text:
No person shall:

(a) Sell, barter, offer to sell or barter, or conspire to sell or barter, any diploma or degree as defined in this article.

(b) Buy, obtain by barter, attempt to buy or obtain by barter, or conspire to obtain by barter or buy, any diploma or degree.

(c) Use in connection with any business, trade, profession, or occupation, or attempt to use in connection with any business, trade, profession or occupation, or conspire to use in connection with any business, trade, profession or occupation, any degree or diploma, which has been purchased, obtained by barter, fraudulently or illegally issued, illegally obtained, counterfeited, materially altered, or found.

(d) Use in connection with a business, trade, profession, or occupation, or give or receive, any degree or diploma which has been purchased, obtained by barter, fraudulently or illegally issued, illegally obtained, counterfeited, materially altered, or found.

(e) Attempt to use in connection with a business, trade, profession, or occupation, or attempt to give or receive, any degree or diploma, which has been purchased, obtained by barter, fraudulently or illegally issued, illegally obtained, counterfeited, materially altered, or found.

(f) Conspire to use in connection with a business, trade, profession, or occupation, or conspire to give or receive, any diploma or degree evidencing the undertaking or completion of any course of study or scholastic achievement attained if, in fact, such course of study has not been undertaken nor completed or if such scholastic achievement has not been attained.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 9. Prohibited Activities


text: Any person willfully violating any provision of Section 32382 is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by both such fine and imprisonment.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 9. Prohibited Activities


text: Any court of competent jurisdiction is hereby authorized to grant such relief as is necessary to enforce the provisions of this article, including the issuance of an injunction.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 9. Prohibited Activities


text: Actions for injunction under the provisions of this article may be brought in the name of the people of the State of California upon their own complaint or upon the complaint of any person, or in the name of any authorized public or private school, college, university, or other authorized institution of learning, acting on its own behalf or the general public.

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 9. Prohibited Activities


text:
(a) The governing board of any school district may offer a fingerprint program for children enrolled in kindergarten or newly enrolled in that district. The governing board may contract with any public or private agency, including any civic or community organization if determined to be appropriate by the governing board, to perform the fingerprinting. The governing board may seek to obtain private funding and volunteer assistance in performing the fingerprinting. The department shall adopt rules and regulations concerning obtaining private funding and volunteer assistance, and develop fingerprinting standards, as approved by the Department of Justice, to be followed in the fingerprinting of children pursuant to this article.

The governing board of any school district offering a fingerprinting program pursuant to this article shall assess a fee to the parent or guardian of the fingerprinted pupils. The fee shall be calculated to reimburse the district only for actual costs associated with the program.

(b) In a school district which elects to offer a fingerprinting program pursuant to this article, each parent or guardian of a child shall be informed of the school fingerprinting program when he or she first enrolls the child in the public schools. At that time the parent or guardian shall declare, in writing, whether or not he or she wants the child to be fingerprinted in the school program and if the parent or guardian consents to the fingerprinting he or she shall pay the applicable fee. The parent or guardian shall be informed in writing at the time of enrollment that he or she may reverse in writing his or her declaration on fingerprinting at any time. Children shall not be fingerprinted without the consent of the parent or guardian.

(c) Any report or document containing fingerprints of a child which is made pursuant to this article shall be given to the parents or guardian of the child and shall not be given to, or retained by, the school district or any other private or public entity. The report or document containing the fingerprints may be given to the parents or guardian with the child’s report card or any other document routinely mailed to parents or guardians, or may be given to parents or guardians in person at any conference with the child’s teacher. To the maximum extent feasible, the report or document containing the fingerprints shall not be sent to the parents in a separate mailing.

(d) As used in this article, the terms “school district,” and “governing board” include a county superintendent of schools.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 134, Sec. 4. Effective July 7, 1987.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

article: 10. Fingerprinting

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 19. MISCELLANEOUS > 3. Miscellaneous > 10. Fingerprinting


text:
(a) The Legislature finds that as many as one million seven hundred thousand people could be granted amnesty and would seek permanent residency in California under the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-603). Under the act, eligible individuals would be required to demonstrate an understanding of ordinary English and a knowledge and understanding of the history and government of the United States.

(b) Further, it is the intent of the Legislature to establish a state test for use by eligible individuals that would attest to their understanding of English and understanding of the history and government of the United States to meet the requirements of Section 312 of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Sec. 1423) and the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-603).

history: (History: Amended (as amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 69, Sec. 2) by Stats. 2021, Ch. 296, Sec. 14. (AB 1096) Effective January 1, 2022. Superseded by amendment by Sec. 3 of Stats. 2016, Ch. 69, only if it becomes operative on or before January 20, 2017.)

title: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS

path: 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 1. GENERAL EDUCATION CODE PROVISIONS > 19. MISCELLANEOUS > 3. Miscellaneous > 11. Educational Services and the Federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986