BILL NUMBER: AB 496AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 26, 2011 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Alejo FEBRUARY 15, 2011 An act to amend Section 32282 of the Education Code, relating to school safety. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 496, as amended, Alejo. School safety: comprehensive school safety plans. (1) Existing law requires a schoolsite council to write and develop a comprehensive school safety plan, except in the case of a small school district, as defined, that develops a districtwide comprehensive school safety plan that is applicable to each schoolsite in the school district. The comprehensive school safety plan is required to include routine and emergency disaster procedures. This bill would require disaster procedures of the comprehensive school safety plan also to include a protocol for ensuring that all school personnel have access to classrooms and other school facilities during a disaster or other emergency if a school restricts that access during regular hours of school operation. The inclusion of this protocol would increase the duties of local officials and thus impose a state-mandated local program (2) 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 these statutory provisions. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 32282 of the Education Code is amended to read: 32282. (a) The comprehensive school safety plan shall include, but not be limited to, both of the following: (1) Assessing the current status of school 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) Child abuse reporting procedures consistent with Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11164) of Title 1 of Part 4 of the Penal Code. (B) Disaster procedures, routine and emergency, including adaptations for pupils with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.). The disaster procedures shall also include, but not be limited to,bothall 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 district or county office may work with the California Emergency Management Agency and the 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: (I) A school building disaster plan, ready for implementation at any time, for maintaining the safety and care of pupils and staff. (II) A drop procedure whereby each pupil and staff member takes cover under a table or desk, dropping to his or her knees, with the head protected by the arms, and the back to the windows. A drop procedure practice shall be held at least once each school quarter in elementary schools and at least once a semester in secondary schools. (III) Protective measures to be taken before, during, and following an earthquake. (IV) 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 district or county office shall cooperate with the public agency in furnishing and maintaining the services as the district or county office may deem necessary to meet the needs of the community. (iii) Establishing a protocol for ensuring that all school personnel have access to classrooms and other school facilities during a disaster or other emergency if a school restricts that access during regular hours of school operation. (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 which would lead to suspension, expulsion, or mandatory expulsion recommendations pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 48900) of Chapter 6 of Part 27. (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. Any 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 the purposes of this paragraph, "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 and 35291.5. (J) Hate crime reporting procedures pursuant to Chapter 1.2 (commencing with Section 628) of Title 15 of Part 1 of the Penal Code.(K) A protocol for ensuring that all school personnel have access to classrooms and other school facilities during a disaster or other emergency if a school restricts that access during regular hours of school operation.(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 by the School/Law Enforcement Partnership Program entitled "Safe Schools: A Planning Guide for Action" in conjunction with developing their plan for school safety. (c) Grants to assist schools in implementing their comprehensive school safety plan shall be made available through the partnership as authorized by Section 32285. (d) 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. (e) 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. (f) The comprehensive school safety plan, as written and updated by the schoolsite council or school safety planning committee, shall be submitted for approval under subdivision (a) of Section 32288. SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.