California Senate Bill SB1439 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 1439AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 28, 2016 INTRODUCED BY Senator Block FEBRUARY 19, 2016 An act  to amend Section 87607 of, and to add Sections 87604.5 and 89521 to, the Education Code,  relating to postsecondary education. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1439, as amended, Block. Postsecondary education:  sexual harassment prevention.   academic and administrative employees: disclosure of allegations of sexual harassment   .   Under   (1)     Under  existing law, the segments of postsecondary education in this state  are the University of California,   include  the California State  University,   University and  the California Community  Colleges, independent institutions of higher education, and private postsecondary educational institutions.   Colleges.  Existing law  requires   authorizes  the governing board of each community college  district,   district and  the Trustees of the California State  University, and the Regents of the University of California to adopt and implement a rape and sexual assault education program at each of their respective campuses or other facilities.   University to employ persons in academic and administrative positions in order to carry out the functions of their respective institutions. Existing law specifically requires community college district governing boards, among other things, to consider the evaluations of district contract employees before making a decision relating to the continued employment of those contract employees, as specified.  This bill would  express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would provide students attending postsecondary educational institutions in California with a learning environment free from sexual harassment.   additionally require community college district governing boards, before making decisions relating to the continued employment of contract employees,   to have knowledge of any allegations of workplace sexual harassment against those contract employees that resulted in final judicial or administrative decisions determining that the employee committed sexual harassment.   The bill would   require community college district governing boards and the Tru   stees of the California State University to require that an application for appointment to an academic or administrative position with that district or with the California State University, as appropriate, include a requirement that the applicant disclose any allegations of workplace sexual harassment against him or her that resulted in a final judicial or administrative decision determining that the applicant committed sexual harassment.   To the extent that these provisions would impose new requirements on community college district governing boards, this bill would constitute 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: no   yes  . State-mandated local program:  no   yes  . THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Section 87604.5 is added to the   Education Code   , to read:   87604.5. The governing board of a community college district shall require that an application for appointment to an academic or administrative position with that district include a requirement that the applicant disclose any allegations of workplace sexual harassment against him or her that resulted in a final judicial or administrative decision determining that the applicant committed sexual harassment.   SEC. 2.   Section 87607 of the   Education Code   is amended to read:  87607. Before making a decision relating to the continued employment of a contract employee, the following requirements shall be satisfied: (a) The employee has been evaluated in accordance with the evaluation standards and procedures established in accordance with  the provisions of  Article 4 (commencing with Section  87660) of this chapter,   87660),  a fact determined solely by the governing board. (b) The governing board has received statements of the most recent evaluations. (c) The governing board has received recommendations of the superintendent of the district and, if the employee is employed at a community college, the recommendations of the president of that community college.  (d) The governing board has knowledge of any allegations of workplace sexual harassment against the employee that resulted in a final judicial or administrative decision determining that the employee committed sexual harassment.   (d)   (   e)  The governing board has considered the statement of evaluation and the recommendations in a lawful meeting of the board.  SEC. 3.   Section 89521 is added to the   Education Code   , to read:   89521. The trustees shall require that an application for appointment to an academic or administrative position with the California State University include a requirement that the applicant disclose any allegations of workplace sexual harassment against him or her that resulted in a final judicial or administrative decision determining that the applicant committed sexual harassment.   SEC. 4.   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.   SECTION 1.   It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would provide students attending postsecondary educational institutions in California with a learning environment free from sexual harassment.