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AB-2124 Pupil Support Training Program.(2021-2022)

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Date Published: 08/26/2022 09:00 PM
AB2124:v95#DOCUMENT

Enrolled  August 26, 2022
Passed  IN  Senate  August 23, 2022
Passed  IN  Assembly  August 24, 2022
Amended  IN  Senate  August 11, 2022
Amended  IN  Senate  June 06, 2022
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 28, 2022

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2124

Introduced by Assembly Member Cristina Garcia
(Principal coauthor: Senator Portantino)

February 15, 2022

An act to add Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 49445) to Chapter 9 of Part 27 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, relating to pupil health.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2124, Cristina Garcia. Pupil Support Training Program.
Existing law requires the governing board of any school district to give diligent care to the health and physical development of pupils and authorizes the governing board of a school district to employ properly certified persons for the work.
This bill, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature for its purposes, would establish the Pupil Peer Support Training Program. The bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop an application process and administration plan for the selection of grant recipients under the program before January 31, 2024. The bill would require the Superintendent to award Pupil Peer Support Training Program grants on a competitive basis to local educational agencies serving pupils in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to establish a peer support training program at schools, as specified. The bill would require a grant recipient to ensure that a school staff member holding a pupil personnel services credential supervises the training of, and services provided by, pupils serving as peer supports under the program. The bill would require a staff member of a community-based organization, as well as any volunteer of the organization, who is participating in this program at a schoolsite to successfully complete a criminal background check, as provided.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 49445) is added to Chapter 9 of Part 27 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:
Article  3.5. Pupil Peer Support Training Program

49445.
 (a) There is hereby established, subject to the appropriation of funding for this purpose, the Pupil Peer Support Training Program.
(b) Before January 31, 2024, the Superintendent shall develop an application process and administration plan for the selection of grant recipients. Administration of this grant shall include providing program oversight and technical assistance to grantees selected pursuant to this section.
(c) The Superintendent shall award Pupil Peer Support Training Program grants on a competitive basis to local educational agencies serving pupils in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive.
(d) A local educational agency may apply for a grant under this program to establish a peer support training program at one or more schools that enroll pupils in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive.
(e) (1) A local educational agency receiving a grant under this program shall ensure that a school staff member holding a pupil personnel services credential supervises the training of, and services provided by, pupils serving as peer supports pursuant to this section.
(2) This section shall not be construed to prohibit local educational agencies from using community-based service providers, including volunteers, individuals completing counseling-related internship programs, and state licensed individuals and agencies, to assist in providing services pursuant to this section, provided that these individuals and agencies are supervised in their school-based activities by individuals holding pupil personnel services credentials.
(f) A local educational agency is encouraged to partner with community-based organizations to administer this program.
(g) A staff member of a community-based organization, as well as any volunteer of the organization, who is participating in this program at a schoolsite shall successfully complete a criminal background check pursuant to Section 45125.1.
(h) The Superintendent shall compile a list of evidence-based peer support programs that meet the requirements of this program and post it on the department’s internet website on or before January 1, 2024.
(i) Pupil peer support training program grant recipients shall commit to providing program data to the department, as specified by the Superintendent.
(j) The requirements of this section are in addition to any other requirement in law and do not replace another established form of care.
(k) The Superintendent shall reserve no more than 1 percent of grant funding for the purposes of administering the grant program.
(l) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.
(2) “Community-based organization” means a public or private nonprofit organization that is representative of a community, or significant segments of a community, and provides educational, physical, behavioral health, or related services to individuals in the community.
(m) Pursuant to Section 820.2 of the Government Code, a local educational agency and its employees shall not be liable for discretionary acts, including the approval and implementation of a peer support program, taken while performing duties pursuant to this article. This subdivision is declaratory of existing law and shall not be construed as modifying or changing existing law.