California Senate Bill SB231 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 231AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 28, 2013 AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 20, 2013 INTRODUCED BY Senator Correa (  Coauthor:   Senator   Block   Coauthors:   Senators   Block   and Steinberg  ) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Ammiano,  Garcia,  Lowenthal, and Ting) FEBRUARY 11, 2013 An act to add Article 11 (commencing with Section 33450) to Chapter 3 of Part 20 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Education Code, relating to bullying. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 231, as amended, Correa. Bullying: California Bullying Prevention  Hotline.   Coordinating Center.  Existing law defines "bullying" as any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or by means of an electronic act, as defined, and including one or more acts of sexual harassment, threats, or intimidation, directed against school district personnel or pupils, committed by a pupil or a group of pupils, that would cause a reasonable pupil, as defined, to be in fear of harm to his or her person or property, to experience a substantially detrimental effect on his or her physical or mental health, to experience substantial interference with his or her academic performance, or to experience substantial interference with his or her ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school. This bill would enact the Michael Joseph Berry Peer Abuse Prevention and Awareness Act of 2013, pursuant to which the California Bullying Prevention  Hotline   Coordinating Center  would be established  . The hotline would   , to  be administered by the State Department of Education. The bill would require the  State Department of Education, in consultation with the Student Mental Health Initiative of the State Department of Health Care Services and other entities deemed appropriate, to contract with an entity that has   Superintendent of Public Instruction to appoint members to a coordinating center advisory council, which would include individuals who have  experience in  specified areas, including, among others,  hotline telephone services,  social media, and  behavioral health services  , crisis prevention and intervention services, suicide prevention and intervention services, and with providing services in a linguistically and culturally competent manner  . The bill would  specify the types of information to be communicated to callers to the hotline. The bill would  require the  State Department of Education   department to recommend to school districts appropriate guidelines, best practices, and information that school districts may disseminate to pupils and their families about the existence, goals, and objectives of the California Bullying Prevention  Hotline   Coordinating Center, as specified  . The bill would provide that its operation in any fiscal year is contingent upon the certification by the Superintendent  of Public Instruction  that sufficient funding is available for the implementation of this bill in that fiscal year  , and would prohibit the use of General Fund moneys to implement the bill  . 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 11 (commencing with Section 33450) is added to Chapter 3 of Part 20 of Division 2 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read: Article 11. The Michael Joseph Berry Peer Abuse Prevention and Awareness Act of 2013 33450. (a) This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the Michael Joseph Berry Peer Abuse Prevention and Awareness Act of 2013. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to establish a California Bullying Prevention  Hotline   Coordinating Center  , which shall address issues relating to bullying and peer abuse, with a particular focus on  those  issues that  are impacting   impact  pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, and their families, peers, and communities. 33451. (a) The California Bullying Prevention  Hotline   Coordinating Center  shall be administered by the  State Department of Education   department  . (b) The  State Department of Education, in consultation with the Student Mental Health Initiative of the State Department of Health Care Services and other entities as deemed appropriate by the State Department of Education, shall contract with an entity that has experience in   California Bullying Prevention Coordinating Center shall establish a Coordinating Center Advisory Council. Members of the ad   visory council shall include individuals who have experience in areas including, but   not limited to,  all of the following  areas  : (1) Hotline telephone services  , which   that  are nationally accredited and provided on a regional or statewide basis.  (2) Social media, such as texting, blogging, chat rooms, and other forms of cyber communications.   (2)   (3)  Behavioral health services.  (3)   (4)  Crisis prevention and intervention services.  (4)   (5)  Suicide prevention and intervention services.  (5)   (6)  Providing services in a linguistically and culturally competent manner.  (7) Other areas related to bullying and peer abuse.   (c) Members of the advisory council shall be appointed by the Superintendent, and serve at his or her pleasure. Members of the advisory council shall be reimbursed only for reasonable expenses associated with the performance of their duties, and shall not receive any salary, per diem, or other compensation.  33452. (a) The  overarching  goals and objectives of the California Bullying Prevention  Hotline   Coordinating Center  shall include, but  not necessarily be   are not  limited to,  communicating with callers and providing information about  all of the following:  (1) Assessment of the bullying and peer abuse reported by callers.   (2) Ensuring the safety of individuals, as related to bullying and peer abuse.   (3) Educating callers about the causes and prevention of bullying and peer abuse.   (4) Referring callers to resources for addressing bullying and peer abuse.   (b) The specific responsibilities, activities, and services that shall be provided through the California Bullying Prevention Hotline shall be determined by the State Department of Education, in collaboration with the Student Mental Health Initiative of the State Department of Health Care Services and other entities as deemed appropriate by the State Department of Education, and shall also include appropriate input and recommendations from pupils, advocates, families, community-based organizations, and individuals who have expertise in issues related to mental health, peer abuse and bullying, and cultural and linguistic competence.   (1) Providing technical assistance to the department, school districts, and other appropriate entities on best practices, strategies, and other interventions that may assist in reducing the incidence of bullying and peer abuse.   (2) Providing recommendations through which pupils, families, school personnel, and other stakeholders may access existing resources and supports that are related to bullying and peer abuse.   (3) Providing recommendations through which the department may improve the collection and analysis of data related to bullying and peer abuse.   (4) Providing recommendations on future legislation, regulations, and public policy that could be implemented to reduce the incidence of bullying and peer abuse.   (5) Providing recommendations on future antibullying communication strategies, such as a bullying prevention hotline.   (c)   (b)  The  State Department of Education   department  shall recommend to school districts appropriate guidelines, best practices, and information that school districts may disseminate to pupils and their families about the existence, goals, and objectives of the California Bullying Prevention  Hotline   Coordinating Center  .  (d)   (c)  The  State Department of Education   department  shall recommend  to   that  school districts  that   include  appropriate information about the California Bullying Prevention  Hotline also be included   Coordinating Center  on  their   the school district's  Internet Web  sites and   site,  in any  new revisions   revision  of  their   a school's  comprehensive school safety  plans as well as   plan, and in  any new  materials,   material developed that relates to issues of bullying or peer abuse,  such as  their   a school's  annual parent newsletter  , that are developed relating to issues of bullying or peer abuse  .  (e)   (d)  The  State Department of Education   department  shall also recommend that school districts provide information on the California Bullying Prevention  Hotline   Coordinating Center  to all pupils  , and their families,  who are involved in any complaint procedure related to  complaints of  peer abuse, bullying, harassment, or discrimination  , and to their families  . 33453.  (a)    The operation of this article in any fiscal year is contingent upon the certification by the Superintendent that sufficient funding is available for the implementation of this article in that fiscal year.  (b) General Fund moneys shall not be used to implement this article.