Existing law prohibits a pupil from being suspended from school or recommended for expulsion, unless the superintendent of the school district or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has committed an act from a list of specified acts. Existing law authorizes suspension or expulsion for one of those acts if the act is related to a school activity or school attendance occurring at any time, including, but not limited to, while going to and coming from school.
This bill would require the State Department of Education, on or before June 30, 2026, and in consultation with relevant stakeholders, to develop, post on its internet website, and distribute to each local educational agency, as defined, a model policy on how to address certain acts of bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, sexual harassment, or intimidation occurring outside of school hours and outside of the campus, as specified. The bill would require each local educational agency, on or before July 1, 2027, to adopt the model policy developed by the department, and would require each local educational agency to provide a copy of the adopted model policy to each of its credentialed employees, enrolled pupils, and the parents or guardians of its enrolled pupils. 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 the statutory provisions noted above.