California Assembly Bill AB1857 Latest Draft

 BILL NUMBER: AB 1857AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 10, 2012 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Fong FEBRUARY 22, 2012 An act to add Article 1.5 (commencing with Section 32205) to Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code, relating to pupils. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1857, as amended, Fong. Pupils: healthy relationships promotion and teen dating  violence   abuse  prevention. Existing law requires a school district that provides instruction to pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to provide an adopted course of study to those pupils, as specified. Existing law requires the State Board of Education to adopt academic content standards in certain curriculum areas. This bill would authorize school districts to provide education programs that promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating  violence   abuse  to pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, through curricular, extracurricular, and school climate-improvement activities. The bill would authorize school districts to work in partnership with parents, caregivers, and youth, domestic violence, sexual assault, or other appropriate community-based organizations, as deemed appropriate by the school district, to provide these education programs. The bill would require school districts that choose to provide education programs that promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating  violence   abuse  to use research-based materials that are appropriate for pupils of all races, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and for pupils with disabilities. The bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to provide information about model education programs that are designed to promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating  violence   abu   se  on the State Department of Education's Internet Web site, as specified. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Article 1.5 (commencing with Section 32205) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code, to read: Article 1.5. Healthy Relationships Promotion and Teen Dating  Violence   Abuse  Prevention 32205. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Superintendent encourage the provision of education programs that promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating  violence   abuse  to pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive. It is further the intent of the Legislature that public schools serving pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, have access to model education programs and materials designed to promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating  violence   abuse  among pupils. (b) A school district may provide education programs to promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating  violence   abuse  to pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, through curricular, extracurricular, and school climate-improvement activities. School districts may work in partnership with parents, caregivers, and youth, domestic violence, sexual assault, or other appropriate community-based organizations, as deemed appropriate by the school district, to provide these education programs. 32206. School districts that choose to provide education programs that promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating  violence   abuse  pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 32205 shall use research-based materials that are appropriate for pupils of all races, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and for pupils with disabilities. 32207. (a) The Superintendent shall provide information, which may be used by school districts, about model education programs that are designed to promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating  violence   abuse  among pupils on the department's Internet Web site. (b) The information provided on the department's Internet Web site shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (1) The legal obligations of schools to respond to and prevent teen dating  violence   abuse  under existing federal and state law. (2) Model school teen dating  violence   abuse  prevention policies. (3) Model school healthy relationships promotion and teen dating  violence   abuse  prevention curriculum and education programs. (c) In compiling the information to post on the department's Internet Web site, the Superintendent shall seek input from other public agencies and private nonprofit organizations with experience providing education programs that promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating  violence   abuse  . The Superintendent may include materials developed by those agencies or organizations that the Superintendent deems appropriate in the information provided on the department's Internet Web site.