Your participation in the PERK ACTION CAMPAIGNS has made a difference. We had over 1,100,000 Emails, 100 Phone calls, and 112,000 Tweets to legislators and the Governor's office. With your strategically combined efforts and PERK’s meeting with the Governor’s office, we managed to get 2 bills vetoed (AB 957 and SB 596), several bills amended (AB 659, etc.) and a section of one bill killed (SB 599). In a SUPER MAJORITY STATE, this is quite an accomplishment!
Bills we opposed.
SB 596 - VETOED
School employees: protection
This bill would specify, for purposes of the above-described offense, that “substantial disorder” includes substantial disorder at any meeting of the governing board of a school district, the governing body of a charter school, a county board of education, or the State Board of Education.
The broad bill language "(a) Any parent, guardian, or other person whose conduct in a place where a school employee is required to be in the course of the school employee’s duties materially disrupts classwork or extracurricular activities or involves substantial disorder, including substantial disorder at any meeting of the governing board of a school district, the governing body of a charter school, a county board of education, or the state board, is guilty of a misdemeanor" targets involved parents who are passionately speaking out to defend their children’s innocence and improve their quality of education.
AB 957 - VETOED
Family law: gender identity
*This bill would have incorporate additional changes to Section 3011 of the Family Code proposed by SB 599 to be operative only if this bill and SB 599 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
AB 957 Obligates a judge to include gender identity affirmation by parent as part of the deciding criteria when awarding custody in family court. Changes SECTION 1. Section 3011 of the Family Code to the health, safety, and welfare of of the child. (B) As used in this paragraph, the health, safety, and welfare of the child includes, among other comprehensive factors, a parent’s affirmation of the child’s gender identity or gender expression. Affirmation includes a range of actions and will be unique for each child, but in every case must promote the child’s overall health and well-being.…Read more
*SB 599 - Signed Into Law Without Controversial Language
Visitation rights.
As introduced, and as passed by the Senate, SB 599 was a bill concerning parental visitation and directed the courts to take into account any acts of domestic violence when granting visitation rights to parents and related provisions. It was considered non-controversial, and there was no opposition registered to the May 18 version that was approved by the California Senate with bipartisan support. On May 31 of this year, the Senate passed SB 599 unanimously with all 40 members of the senate voting “Aye.”
On August 28, the bill was amended with language that was consistent with AB 957 concerning gender affirmation. In fact, it added gender affirmation as another issue that the courts had to take into consideration when granting visitation rights to parents. However, this amendment also included language that said that the entire section, section 2.5, would not become active into law unless AB 957 passed and was signed before SB 599.
Because the Governor vetoed, AB 957, section 2.5 of SB 599 that we opposed will not become law. The Governor signed SB 599, but again, section 2.5 does not become active because of the language, making it contingent upon the passage of 957. So the effect of the Governor’s signature on SB 599 was in essence to enact the version of SB 599 that was non-controversial dealing with visitation and domestic violence.
AB 5 - Signed into Law
The Safe and Supportive Schools Act (ZBUR)
This bill will require the State Department of Education, on or before July 1, 2025, to finalize the development of an online training delivery platform and an online training curriculum to support LGBTQ cultural competency training for teachers and other certificated employees. The bill would mandate the use the online training delivery platform and curriculum. Summary: Mandates teachers to complete training on how to identify and profile students whose parents don't affirm their child's gender identity, identify and implement inclusive curriculum, and counseling services for LGBTQ youth. Effective immediately!
AB 223 - Signed into Law
Change of gender and sex identifier (Ward)
This bill will require any petition for a change of gender and sex identifier or a petition for change of gender, sex identifier, and name filed by a person under 18 years of age, and any papers associated with the proceeding, to be kept confidential by the court. The bill will require the court to limit access to these records to specified individuals, including, among others, the minor, the minor’s parents, and their attorneys.
AB 659 - Signed into Law
Cancer Prevention Act (Aguiar-Curry)
This bill will declare that pupils in the state are advised to adhere to current immunization guidelines, as recommended by specified health entities, regarding full human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization before admission or advancement to the 8th grade level of any private or public elementary or secondary school. The bill will, upon a pupil’s admission or advancement to the 6th grade level, require the governing authority to submit to the pupil and their parent or guardian a notification containing a statement about that public policy and advising that the pupil adhere to current HPV immunization guidelines before admission or advancement to the 8th grade level, as specified. The bill will require that the notification also include a statement containing certain health information. This will also declare the public policy of the state that students who are 26 years of age or younger are advised to adhere to current immunization guidelines, as specified, regarding full HPV immunization before first-time enrollment at an institution of the California State University, the University of California, or the California Community Colleges.
*THIS IS NOT A MANDATE.
AB 665 - Signed into Law
consent to mental health services (Carillo)
Removes the requirement that children must be a danger to themselves or others, or be alleged incest or abuse victims, before seeking care without their parents’ consent. This will remove the guardrails that prevent abuse of current law, so instead of cases of emergency, mental health professionals or school psychologists can refer for treatment and/or send a child to residential shelter services for any reason without parental consent.
AB 1078 - Signed into Law
Instructional materials and curriculum (Jackson)
This bill would remove local school districts from the equation of deciding the best literature and curriculum for the communities served.
Local school districts will lose their authority over curriculum and give all the power to the County Superintendent and California Board of Education.
SB 407 - Signed into Law
Foster care: resource families (Wiener, Lee, Low)
This bill would require a resource family to demonstrate an ability and willingness to meet the needs of a child, regardless of the child’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, as specified. To the extent this bill would create new duties for counties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program..
This bill would require counties to ensure that the caregiver training described above supports children of all races, ethnic group identifications, ancestries, national origins, colors, religions, sexes, sexual orientations, gender identities, mental or physical disabilities, or HIV statuses in foster care. To the extent this bill would create new duties for counties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
SB 770 - Signed into Law
Health care: unified health care financing (Weiner)
This bill would direct the Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency to research, develop, and pursue discussions of a waiver framework in consultation with the federal government with the objective of a health care system that incorporates specified features and objectives, including, among others, a comprehensive package of medical, behavioral health, pharmaceutical, dental, and vision benefits, and the absence of cost sharing for essential services and treatments. The bill would further require the secretary to engage specified stakeholders to provide input on topics related to discussions with the federal government and key design issues, as specified. The bill would require the secretary, no later than January 1, 2025, to provide an interim report to specified committees of the Legislature and propose statutory language to the chairs of those committees authorizing the development and submission of applications to the federal government for waivers necessary to implement a unified health care financing system. The bill would require the secretary, no later than June 1, 2025, to complete drafting the waiver framework, make the draft available to the public on the agency’s internet website, and hold a 45-day public comment period thereafter. The bill would require the secretary, no later than November 1, 2025, to provide the Legislature and the Governor with a report that communicates the finalized waiver framework, as specified, and sets forth the specific elements to be included in a formal waiver application to establish a unified health care financing system, as specified. The bill would also include findings and declarations of the Legislature related to the implementation of a unified health care financing system.
Bills we supported
SB 14 - Signed into Law
Serious felonies: human trafficking. (grove)
This bill would include human trafficking of a minor within the definition of a serious felony for all purposes, including for purposes of the Three Strikes Law, except as specified. By expanding the scope of an enhancement, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
ACR 4 - Signed into Law
Positive Parenting Awareness Month (Addis)
This measure would declare the month of January 2023 as Positive Parenting Awareness Month in California.
Whereas, raising children and youth in California to become healthy, confident, capable individuals is the most important job parents and caregivers have as their children’s first teachers…Read more
AB 1023 - Signed into Law
California Cybersecurity Integration Center: school cybersecurity (Pappan)
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation that would provide additional support and funding to local educational agencies to improve and expand protections against cybersecurity threats.
AB 370 - Signed into Law
Pupil Instruction: State Seal of Biliteracy (ADDIS)
This bill would change the criteria needed to be met by a pupil to be awarded the State Seal of Biliteracy by requiring the pupil to both demonstrate proficiency in English by meeting one of 4 specified requirements and demonstrate proficiency in one or more languages other than… Read more
AB 611 - Signed into Law
Special Education: nonpublic, nonsectarian schools or agencies: change in certification status: parental notification (Weber)
This bill would expand transparency between nonpublic schools and parents and/or guardians of the pupils with exceptional needs in nonpublic schools by requiring Local Educational Agencies to alert parents… Read more
AB 87 - Signed into Law
Pupils: Section 504 plans: meetings and team meetings
Existing law requires local educational agencies to identify, locate, and assess individuals with exceptional needs and to provide those pupils with a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment, with special education and related services as reflected in an individualized education program. Existing law authorizes the parent, guardian, or local educational agency of those pupils to audio record the proceedings of individualized education program team meetings.
This bill would similarly authorize a parent, guardian, or local educational agency to audio record meetings and any team meetings for pupils held pursuant to Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as provided.
AB 446 - SUPPORT - Signed into Law
Pupil instruction: handwriting (Quirk-Silva)
This bill would require handwriting instruction for grades 1 to 6, inclusive, to include instruction in cursive or joined italics in the appropriate grade levels. To the extent that this bill would impose new duties on local educational agencies, it would constitute a state-mandated local program.
SB 291 - SUPPORT - Signed into Law
Pupil rights: recess (NEWMAN)
The bill would require, commencing with the 2024–25 school year, a school district, county office of education, or charter school to provide a daily recess, as defined, of at least 30 minutes. The bill would prohibit school staff members from restricting a pupil’s… Read more
SB 845 - FAILED
Let Parents Choose Protection Act of 2023 (STERN)
This bill would require large social media platform providers, as defined, to create, maintain, and make available to specified third-party safety software providers a set of third-party-accessible application programming interfaces to allow a third-party safety software provider, upon authorization by a child 13 years of age or older…Read more
SB 292 - FAILED
Education expenses: Education Savings Account Act of 2024 (GROVE)
CPC Sponsored Bill: SB 292 would create an education savings account for every K-12 student in California and allow Proposition 98 education funds to follow the student to the school of their choice. Unused funds can be saved from year-to-year and used to pay for college or vocational training… Read more
AB 801 - FAILED
Student Privacy: Online Personal Information (Patterson)
Early Learning Personal Information Protection Act and the Student Online Personal Information Protection Act, prohibit the operator of specified internet websites, online services, online applications, or mobile applications from knowingly engaging in targeted advertising to amass a … Read more
SB 625 - FAILED
Newborn screening: genetic diseases: blood samples collected (Nguyen)
This bill would require consent for the storage of a newborn’s residual blood sample and the use of the sample for research purposes. Require written acknowledgment from the parent or guardian that they have received information regarding the storage, retention, and use of the newborn child’s blood sample for medical research. Prohibit any residual newborn screening specimen from being released to any person or entity for law enforcement purposes.
AB 731 - FAILED
Pupil literacy: home book delivery: grant program (Pacheco)
This bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose, establish the Home Book Delivery and School Connection Grant Program for the purpose of increasing access to books that are culturally relevant and reflect the diversity of the state, … Read more
AB 347 - FAILED
Vehicles: driver education and training: grant program (NEWMAN)
This bill would require the DMV to establish a grant program to provide vouchers for high school students to attend automobile driver education and driver training by a driving school or independent driving instructor.
SCA 5 - FAILED
Educational expenses: education savings accounts (GROVE)
This measure, notwithstanding the constitutional provisions referenced above or any other provision of the California Constitution, would authorize the state, and every agency or political subdivision of the state, to disburse funds pursuant to an agreement between the state and a parent or legal guardian of an eligible child for tuition and education-related expenses…Read more
AB 802 - FAILED
Curriculum: right to examine (PATTERson)
This bill would require each school district, county office of education, and charter school to provide written notice to a pupil’s parent or guardian of their right to examine the curriculum materials of the class or classes in which their child is enrolled, as provided…Read more.
AB 1652 - FAILED
Curriculum: right to examine (Sanchez)
Existing law provides that parents and guardians of children enrolled in public schools have the right, and should have the opportunity, as mutually supportive and respectful partners in the education of their children within the public schools…Read more