Existing federal law, known as Title IX, prohibits a person, on the basis of sex, from being excluded from participation in, being denied the benefits of, or being subject to discrimination, which includes sexual harassment, under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

Existing law prohibits a person from being subjected to discrimination on the basis of specified attributes, including, among others, disability or gender, in a program or activity conducted by a postsecondary educational institution that receives, or benefits from, state financial assistance or enrolls students who receive state student financial aid.

This bill would require each California State University and California Community College campus, and would request each University of California campus, to provide, as specified, status updates on complaints of sex discrimination to the complainants and respondents, except for those who opt to not receive the updates. The bill would require each California State University and California Community College campus, and would request each University of California campus, to provide, within 5 business days of a decision of disciplinary action being made against a respondent in response to a complaint of sex discrimination, a notification of the disciplinary action to the respondent and complainant. By imposing new duties on community college districts, 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.