Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district or its designee to regulate the possession or use of any electronic signaling device that operates through the transmission or receipt of radio waves, including, but not limited to, paging and signaling equipment, by pupils of the school district while the pupils are on campus, attending school-sponsored activities, or under the supervision or control of school district employees. Existing law explicitly authorizes the governing body of a school district, a county office of education, or a charter school to adopt a policy to limit or prohibit the use by its pupils of smartphones while the pupils are at a schoolsite or while the pupils are under the supervision and control of an employee or employees of that school district, county office of education, or charter school. This bill would additionally explicitly authorize the governing board of a school district, a county board of education, or the governing body of a charter school to limit or prohibit the use by its pupils of social media, as defined, while the pupils are at a schoolsite or while the pupils are under the supervision and control of an employee or employees of that school district, county office of education, or charter school, as provided.
Sponsored bills
Existing law, the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act, establishes various procedures for the reporting, investigation, and prosecution of elder and dependent adult abuse. Existing law defines financial abuse for those purposes and provides that it occurs when, among other instances, a person or entity takes, secretes, appropriates, obtains, or retains, or assists in taking, secreting, appropriating, obtaining, or retaining, real or personal property of an elder or dependent adult for a wrongful use or with intent to defraud, or both. Existing law requires a person or entity to be deemed to have taken, secreted, appropriated, obtained, or retained property for a wrongful use if, among other things, the person or entity takes the property and the person or entity knew or should have known that the conduct is likely to be harmful to the elder or dependent adult. Existing law requires the court to award specified costs if a defendant is found liable for financial abuse, as specified. Existing law makes the failure to report, or impeding or inhibiting a report of, among other things, financial abuse of an elder or dependent adult, in violation of certain reporting requirements a misdemeanor. This bill, commencing January 1, 2026, would require a covered person or entity, as defined, to establish an emergency financial contact program for covered accountholders, as specified. The bill would require a covered person or entity to notify a joint accountholder or an emergency financial contact, if one has been provided, if the covered person or entity should reasonably suspect a covered transaction requested by the covered accountholder is the result of financial abuse. The bill would also require a covered person or entity to delay, by at least 3 business days, a covered transaction initiated by a covered accountholder if the covered person or entity should reasonably suspect the transaction is the result of financial abuse and would make a covered person or entity immune from administrative, civil, or other liability that might arise from a delayed or refused transaction. The bill would authorize a covered person or entity to implement an emergency financial contact program for an accountholder who is not an elder or dependent adult, as specified. Existing law provides for the award of attorney's fees and costs, and damages, to a plaintiff when it is proven by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is liable for financial abuse of an elder or dependent adult. This bill would, if proven by a preponderance of the evidence, subject a covered person or entity to liability for actual and noneconomic damages, for certain specified violations. The bill would prohibit a nonmanagerial employee of a covered entity or a covered person who is an employee of a covered entity who meets certain specifications from being held personally liable in their individual capacity for specified violations. The bill would make these provisions severable, except as specified.
Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish procedures within the State Department of Education to, among other things, annually identify the critical needs for which effective educational programs and practices are to be identified, developed, and disseminated to public schools. This bill would require the Superintendent to convene a working group, composed as provided, for specific purposes related to artificial intelligence in public schools, as specified. The bill would require, among other things, the working group to develop, on or before January 1, 2026, guidance for school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools on the safe use of artificial intelligence in education, and to, on or before July 1, 2026, develop a model policy for those local educational agencies regarding the safe and effective use of artificial intelligence in ways that benefit, and do not negatively impact, pupils and educators, as provided. The bill would require the working group to, on or before January 1, 2027, report its findings and recommendations to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, as provided. The bill would dissolve the working group upon submission of that report, and would repeal these provisions as of January 1, 2031.
Existing law requires the adopted course of study for grades 1 to 6, inclusive, and the adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to include certain areas of study, including, among others, English, mathematics, social sciences, science, and visual and performing arts, as specified. Existing law requires the Instructional Quality Commission, when the history-social science curriculum framework is next revised, on or after January 1, 2024, to consider providing for inclusion, in that curriculum framework, related evaluation criteria, and accompanying instructional materials, of instruction, among other things, the historical, social, economic, and political contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the United States. This bill, with respect to the adopted course of study for grades 1 to 6, inclusive, for social sciences, would additionally require instruction that provides a foundation for understanding the Spanish colonization of California and the Gold Rush Era, including the treatment and perspectives of Native Americans during those periods. The bill, with respect to the adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, for social sciences, would require, to the extent instruction is provided on the Spanish colonization of California or the Gold Rush Era, instruction that provides a foundation for understanding the treatment and perspectives of Native Americans during those periods. The bill would require the commission, when the State Board of Education next revises the history-social science curriculum framework or adopts new instructional materials, on or after January 1, 2025, to consider including content on the treatment and perspectives of Native Americans during those periods in that curriculum framework or evaluation criteria for instructional materials. To the extent that this bill would create new duties for local educational agencies or local officials, it would constitute a state-mandated local program. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 51210 of the Education Code proposed by AB 2073 to be operative only if this bill and AB 2073 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 51220 of the Education Code proposed by AB 1871 to be operative only if this bill and AB 1871 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 51226.3 of the Education Code proposed by AB 1805 to be operative only if this bill and AB 1805 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law establishes the California Racial Mascots Act, which prohibits public schools from using the term Redskins as a school or athletic team name, mascot, or nickname. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish and implement a system of complaint processing, known as the Uniform Complaint Procedures, for specified educational programs. This bill would exempt public schools operated by an Indian tribe or a tribal organization from this prohibition. The bill would prohibit, beginning July 1, 2026, public schools, except for public schools operated by an Indian tribe or tribal organization, from using any derogatory Native American term, as defined, as a school or athletic team name, mascot, or nickname, except as provided. The bill would require the Uniform Complaint Procedures to apply to school or athletic team names, mascots, or nicknames pursuant to the bill. To the extent that the bill would impose new duties on public schools, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law authorizes the governing board of a community college district to enter into a College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) partnership with the governing board of a school district, a county office of education, or the governing body of a charter school for the purpose of offering or expanding dual enrollment opportunities for pupils who may not already be college bound or who are underrepresented in higher education, as provided. This bill would instead authorize the governing board of a community college district to enter into a CCAP partnership with the governing board of a school district, a county office of education, or the governing body of a charter school for the purpose of offering or expanding dual enrollment opportunities for all pupils, and would require that enrollment in, and pupil outreach for, CCAP partnerships be prioritized for pupils who may not already be college bound or who are underrepresented in higher education. Existing law prohibits a community college district from entering into a CCAP partnership with a school district, county office of education, or charter school within the service area of another community college district except where an agreement exists, or is established, between those community college districts authorizing that CCAP partnership. This bill would instead authorize a community college district to enter into a CCAP partnership with the governing board of a school district, a county office of education, or the governing body of a charter school within the service area of another community college district under specified conditions, including if the governing board of the community college district has denied in writing a request letter to establish a CCAP partnership. This bill would require, commencing with the 2030–31 academic year, a CCAP partnership agreement to certify that a pupil shall receive credit for any community college courses that the pupil completes if the course is part of a memorandum of understanding between the governing board of the school district, a county office of education, or the governing body of a charter school and a community college district and the course meets specified requirements, as provided. The bill would require that a CCAP partnership agreement contain a requirement for courses to be offered if an agreed upon minimum number of high school students are enrolled in a given academic year. Existing law authorizes a community college district to allow a special part-time student participating in a CCAP partnership agreement to enroll in up to a maximum of 15 units per term in courses offered at the community college campus or the participating high school campus if certain circumstances are satisfied, including that the units constitute no more than 4 community college courses per term. This bill would eliminate the 4 community college courses per term limit for a special part-time student enrolling in up to 15 units under a CCAP partnership agreement. Existing law requires, for each CCAP partnership agreement, the affected community college district and school district, county office of education, or charter school to annually report specified information to the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, including the total number of community college courses, by course category and type and by schoolsite, enrolled in by CCAP partnership participants. This bill would instead require the affected community college district and school district, county office of education, or charter school to annually report the total number of high school pupils who successfully completed 12 or more units of college coursework by graduation, completed a certificate, or completed the courses required for an associate degree or an associate degree for transfer. This bill would additionally revise or eliminate several requirements related to CCAP partnership agreements, including, among other things, (1) eliminating a requirement to consult with, and consider the input of, the appropriate local workforce development board for career technical education pathways provided under a partnership, and (2) eliminating a requirement that a CCAP partnership agreement certify that any pretransfer-level course taught by a community college faculty at a partnering high school campus is offered only to high school pupils who do not meet their grade level standard in mathematics, English, or both. This bill would require, to the extent these provisions conflict with any provision of a CCAP partnership agreement entered into by a community college district and the governing board of a school district, charter school, or county office of education on or before January 1, 2025, those agreements to be amended to comply with the bill's requirements by the start of the 2030–31 academic year.
Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to, among other things, establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials, certificates, and permits. Existing law sets forth the minimum requirements for a preliminary services credential with a specialization in administrative services, which include, among other requirements, possession of one of various types of credentials and the completion of a minimum of 3 years of teaching experience, as provided. This bill would provide that a valid license to practice occupational therapy or physical therapy and verification of meeting a basic skills requirement, as specified, and 3 years of experience as a school-based occupational therapist or physical therapist may be used to satisfy respective requirements for a preliminary services credential with a specialization in administrative services, as provided. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 44270 of the Education Code proposed by SB 1329 to be operative only if this bill and SB 1329 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
Existing law establishes the California Interagency Council on Homelessness to identify mainstream resources, benefits, and services that can be accessed to prevent and end homelessness in California by creating partnerships between federal, state, local, and nonprofit entities. Existing law requires a state agency or department that administers one or more state homelessness programs, upon request of the council, to participate in council activities, as specified, and to provide to the council any relevant information regarding those state homelessness programs. This bill would require, commencing September 1, 2025, a state agency or department that administers one or more state homelessness programs to report annually to the council cost and outcome data for each program the agency or department administers, and would require the council, in coordination with each agency or department required to report to the council, as specified, to develop data collection and reporting procedures for this purpose. The bill would require the council to compile the data reported by agencies and departments and, commencing April 1, 2026, annually make that data available to the public.
Existing law prohibits a permanent school employee from being dismissed, except for one or more of certain enumerated causes, including egregious misconduct, as defined. Existing law requires the superintendent of a school district or county office of education, or the administrator of a charter school, employing a person with a credential, to report any change in the employment status of the credentialholder to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing not later than 30 days after the change in employment status, if the credentialholder, while working in a position requiring a credential, and as a result of an allegation of misconduct or while an allegation of misconduct is pending, is dismissed, is nonreelected, resigns, is suspended or placed on unpaid administrative leave for more than 10 days as a final adverse action, retires, or is otherwise terminated by a decision not to employ or reemploy. Existing law prohibits school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools from entering into an agreement that would prevent a mandatory report of egregious misconduct, as defined, or expunging from an employee's personnel file, or entering in an agreement that would authorize expunging from an employee's personnel file, credible complaints of, substantiated investigations into, or discipline for, egregious misconduct. Existing law requires a school district, county office of education, or charter school that has made a report of an employee's egregious misconduct to the commission to disclose this fact to a school district, county office of education, or charter school considering an application for employment from the employee, upon inquiry. This bill would add state special schools to the above-described prohibitions regarding preventing mandatory reporting of, or expunging from an employee's personnel file information on, egregious misconduct, and to the above-described requirement regarding disclosure of a report of an employee's egregious misconduct. The bill would require a person applying for a certificated position at a school district, county office of education, charter school, or state special school to provide that prospective employer with a complete list of every school district, county office of education, charter school, and state special school that the applicant has previously been an employee of, and would require school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, and state special schools considering an applicant for a certificated position to inquire with each of those local educational agencies that previously employed the applicant as to whether the applicant, while previously employed by the local educational agency, was the subject of any credible complaints of, substantiated investigations into, or discipline for, egregious misconduct that were required to be reported to the commission. The bill would require those local educational agencies, when responding to an inquiry as to whether it has made a report of egregious misconduct to the commission, to also provide the inquiring local educational agency with a copy of all relevant information that was reported to the commission within its possession. To the extent the bill would impose additional duties on local educational agency officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law authorizes the governing body of a school district, a county office of education, or a charter school to adopt a policy to limit or prohibit the use by its pupils of smartphones while the pupils are at a schoolsite or while the pupils are under the supervision and control of an employee or employees of that school district, county office of education, or charter school. Existing law, however, specifies circumstances in which a pupil may not be prohibited from possessing or using a smartphone. This bill would instead require the governing body of a school district, a county office of education, or a charter school to, by July 1, 2026, develop and adopt, and to update every 5 years, a policy to limit or prohibit the use by its pupils of smartphones while the pupils are at a schoolsite or while the pupils are under the supervision and control of an employee or employees of that school district, county office of education, or charter school, as provided. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would constitute a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.