In keeping with what has been an unorthodox legislative year, Gov. Newsom concluded action on all legislative measures that reached his desk with a day to spare. The Governor’s signing period ran up and until midnight Oct. 10, which has officially come to an end. For the most part, the Governor signed many of the education bills that reached his desk. As the dust settles, here are some of the top highlights on K-12 bills signed into law.
Among the new laws approved:
- Assembly Bill 101 (Medina, D-Riverside): Will require local educational agencies serving grades 9-12 to offer at least a one-semester course in ethnic studies commencing with the 2024–25 school year and add a semester-long ethnic studies course to the statewide graduation requirement, commencing with the 2029–30 school year. Signed into law on Oct. 8. CSBA Position: Support
- AB 361 (Robert Rivas, D-Salinas): An urgency measure that continues the authority granted during the COVID-19 crisis and allow local agencies, including school boards, to meet remotely during a declared state of emergency. Signed into law on Sept. 16. CSBA Position: Support
- AB 438 (Reyes, D-San Bernardino): Eliminates the existing 60-day layoff notice requirements for classified staff and instead requires school districts to issue classified staff layoff notices by March 15, which is the same layoff notice date afforded to certificated employees. Also provides that any future layoff notice or hearing rights granted to certificated staff in future years would automatically extend to classified staff. Signed into law on Oct. 8. CSBA Position: Oppose. Read CSBA’s statement criticizing the signing of AB 438 here.
- AB 815 (Luz Rivas, D-San Fernando Valley): Authorizes the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to approve a clear credential program offered by an LEA for school nursing; and requires the CTC to apply the standards for approval of a program of professional preparation offered by a postsecondary educational institution to a program of professional preparation offered by an LEA. Signed into law on Oct. 8. CSBA Position: Support
- AB 824 (Bennett, D-Santa Barbara): Establishes a process for county boards of education and charter schools to appoint one or more high school pupils as student members of their governing bodies in response to a student petition. Signed into law on Oct. 8. CSBA Position: Support
- Senate Bill 4 (Gonzalez, D-Long Beach)/AB 14 (Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters): Continues the ongoing collection of funds deposited into the California Advanced Services fund to provide communities with grants to expand broadband access. Signed into law on Oct. 8. CSBA Position: Support
- SB 14 (Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge): Requires mental or behavioral health-related absences to count as an excused absence for school attendance reporting and requires the California Department of Education to recommend best practices and identify evidence-based and evidence-informed training programs for schools to address youth behavioral health, including staff and student training, by Jan. 1, 2023. Signed into law on Oct. 8. CSBA Position: Support If Amended
- SB 270 (Durazo, D-Los Angeles): Beginning in July 1, 2022, will permit an exclusive labor representative to file an unfair labor practice with the Public Employment Relations Board if a public agency fails to provide employee contact information within 30-days of a request for that information, limit the public employer’s ability to cure the alleged violation, and permit a penalty of up to $10,000 and provides a right to attorney’s fees to the prevailing party. CSBA Position: Oppose
- SB 488 (Rubio, D-Baldwin Park): Effectively replaces the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment by July 1, 2025, by requiring the CTC to integrate updated reading assessments into the existing Teaching Performance Assessment. Signed into law on Oct. 8. CSBA Position: Support
What’s Next?
For a comprehensive look at the education laws passed this year, CSBA will share our annual “What’s New for 2022” report in the coming weeks. And as always, please feel free to reach out to our Governmental Relations teams with any questions you may have at gradmin@csba.org.
