Just a few days remain for Gov. Gavin Newsom to approve or veto legislation before the signing period ends on Oct. 10. Among the new laws the Governor has approved to date are several measures school leaders should be aware of:
- Senate Bill 270 (Durazo, D-Los Angeles): Beginning July 1, 2022, this law will permit a 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. It also limits the public employer’s ability to cure the alleged violation, permits a penalty of up to $10,000 and provides a right to attorney’s fees to the prevailing party. CSBA Position: Oppose.
- SB 278 (Leyva, D-Chino): This law requires public agencies, when CalPERS determines that compensation agreed to under a collective bargaining agreement is non-pensionable, to pay penalties in a lump sum and pay CalPERS the full cost of any overpayment of paid benefits made to the affected retired member, survivor or beneficiary resulting from the disallowed compensation. CSBA Position: Oppose.
- SB 400 (Jones, R-Santee): This law requires, pursuant to federal law, local educational agency liaisons for homeless youth to ensure the identification of homeless youth through outreach and coordination activities and ensure homeless youth receive referrals for health and other services. It also requires the California Department of Education to develop and implement systems to verify that LEAs are meeting specified requirements and remind LEAs to update outdated policies regarding federal requirements for serving homeless students. CSBA Position: Support
- Assembly Bill 516 (Dahle, R-Bieber): This law adds “for the purpose of participating in a cultural ceremony or event” to the list of categories of excused absences for purposes of school attendance. CSBA Position: Support.
- AB 643 (Ramos, D-Highland): This law requires LEAs planning to hold a college or career fair to notify each apprenticeship program in the same county. CSBA Position: Support If Amended.
- AB 898 (Lee, D-San Jose): This law restricts the disclosure of criminal background information to outside parties when a person’s criminal conviction is expunged from their record. CSBA Position: Oppose Unless Amended.
- AB 945 (Ramos, D-Highland): This law establishes a task force to develop recommendations for best practices, protocols, proposed legislation and other policies to address how to comprehensively implement all aspects of a student’s authority to wear traditional tribal regalia or recognized objects of religious or cultural significance as an adornment at school graduation ceremonies. CSBA Position: Support If Amended.
Key decisions remain for education-related bills, and CSBA will continue to provide updates as the signing period concludes.
