BILL NUMBER: AB 827AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 4, 2015 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 6, 2015 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member O'Donnell FEBRUARY 26, 2015 An act to add Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 218) to Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code, relating to teachers. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 827, as amended, O'Donnell. Teachers: in-service training: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning pupil resources. Existing law establishes the system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state and provides for the establishment of local educational agencies to operate these schools and provide instruction to pupils. Existing law states the policy of the State of California to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other specified characteristic, equal rights and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state. This bill would require each school operated by a school district or county office of education and each charter school to provide in-service training every school year to teachers of pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, and to all other certificated employees at that school, on schoolsite and community resources for the support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning pupils, as specified. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, 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 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. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a)( 1) All pupils deserve and need safe and supportive school environments in which to learn.(b)( 2) Despite much progress, California lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) pupils often face verbal, physical, and online harassment, which has significant effects on their academic achievement.(c)( 3) In the Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network's (GLSEN) 2013 National School Climate Survey, 91 percent of California LGBTQ pupils reported hearing anti-LGBTQ remarks, 7 in 10 reported being called names or threatened based on their sexual orientation, nearly one-third reported physical harassment or assault, and 46 percent reported cyberbullying.(d)( 4) These problems have direct effects on pupils' school performance. GLSEN survey data shows that the average grade point average for LGBTQ pupils who have experienced harassment is significantly lower than for LGBTQ pupils who have not, and that 30 percent of LGBTQ pupils report frequently skipping class or missing whole days of school because they felt unsafe at school.(e)( 5) In spite of these problems, research has shown that LGBTQ pupils who are harassed or assaulted in school do not report these incidents to school staff, primarily because they believe school staff will not do anything about the problem.(f)( 6) Creating supportive learning environments for LGBTQ pupils improves pupil performance. Pupils in schools with peer support clubs report less harassment and assault, are more likely to report incidents when they occur, and are less likely to miss school because of safety concerns.(g)(7 ) The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors and funds local efforts to provide professional development for educators on safe and supportive environments for LGBTQ pupils, foster schoolsite resources such as Gay Straight Alliance clubs and "safe spaces" for LGBTQ pupils, and promote referrals to school and community health professionals with experience providing support to LGBTQ pupils.(h)( 8) CDC data shows that only 50 percent of California schools facilitate access to schoolsite and community health resources for LGBTQ pupils, and only 39 percent have peer support clubs. (b) The Legislature therefore encourages schools to conduct the in-service training required by Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 218) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code as part of a more comprehensive effort to educate school staff on the support of LGBTQ pupils. SEC. 2. Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 218) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code, to read: Article 2.5. In-Service Training: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Pupil Resources 218. Within the first six weeks of every school year, as part of a regularly scheduled staff meeting, each school operated by a school district or county office of education and each charter school shall provide in-service training to teachers of pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, and to all other certificated employees at that school, on schoolsite and community resources for the support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) pupils. (a) As used in this section, schoolsite resources for the support of LGBTQ pupils include, but are not limited to, all of the following: (1) Peer support or affinity clubs and organizations. (2) Safe spaces for LGBTQ pupils. (3) Antibullying and harassment policies and related complaint procedures. (4) Counseling services. (5) School staff who have received antibias or other training aimed at supporting LGBTQ youth. (6) Health and other curriculum materials that are inclusive of, and relevant to, LGBTQ youth. (b) As used in this section, community resources for the support of LGBTQ pupils include, but are not limited to, all of the following: (1) Community-based organizations that provide support to LGBTQ youth. (2) Physical and mental health providers with experience in treating and supporting LGBTQ youth. SEC. 3. 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.