20250SB__118193AMD INTRODUCED 2026-02-18 AMENDED_SENATE 2026-03-25 AMENDED_SENATE 2026-04-28 AMENDED_SENATE 2026-05-22 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2026-06-10 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2026-06-23 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2026-07-02 2025 SB AMD Introduced by Senator Hurtado LEAD_AUTHOR SENATE Hurtado

An act to add

Article 5.1 (commencing with

Section 233.9) to

Chapter of Part of Division of Title of the Education Code, relating to school safety. school safety Violence Prevention, Pupil Wellness, and School Safety Grant Program. Existing law establishes the State Department of Education in state government, and vests the department with specified powers and duties relating to the state’s public school system. Existing law declares the policy of the state to ensure that all local educational agencies work to reduce violence, improve pupil safety at schools, and improve the connections between pupils and supportive adults, schools, and communities.

This bill would require the department, in consultation with the Office of Emergency Services, to establish and administer the Violence Prevention, Pupil Wellness, and School Safety Grant Program to, upon appropriation by the Legislature, award grants to eligible school districts, county offices of education, or charter schools for evidence-based violence prevention, pupil wellness, and public safety initiatives, as specified.

The bill would require the department to consult with representatives of the office, local educational agencies, county behavioral health departments, community-based organizations, and public safety agencies when it develops guidelines for the program.

The bill would require each grant recipient to submit findings to the department on the effectiveness of its activities funded by the grant and would require the department to use those findings to prepare and submit a report to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2029, evaluating the effectiveness of the grant program and providing recommendations regarding violence prevention, pupil wellness, school safety, and behavioral health investments.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Fresno, Kern, Kings, Tulare, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus.</xhtml:p>"?> MAJORITY NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows: <caml:Num>SECTION 1.</caml:Num><caml:Content><xhtml:p>The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(a)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Tragic incidents of teenage shooting deaths in the Central Valley, including Senate District areas, demonstrate broader trends of escalating gun violence and youth involvement in firearm-related threats.

For example, in Hanford in the County of Kings, 17-year-old Ayden Anthony Wyatt was fatally shot at the Casa del Sol Apartments in January 2026, leading to arrests and underscoring risks from gun violence in school-adjacent communities.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(b)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Similar violence has affected nearby regions, including in Clovis in the County of Fresno portion of Senate District 16, where 18-year-old Caleb Quick was killed outside a McDonald’s in April by two 16-year-old suspects, and a 15-year-old boy died in a December accidental shooting, exemplifying trends of youth access to firearms contributing to preventable fatalities and school safety concerns.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(c)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>In the County of Kern, multiple teenage fatalities from shootings illustrate pervasive trends of gun violence impacting youth mental health and community stability in rural areas, including all of the following:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(1)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Fifteen-year-old Prince Michael Banner was killed at The Marketplace in November 2024, with a 16-year-old arrested. </xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(2)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A 12-year-old boy was murdered in Lamont in October 2024, with a juvenile admitting to the crime.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(d)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The proliferation of untraceable ghost guns exacerbates these trends, as seen in incidents like the February discovery of an 18-year-old in nearby San Jose manufacturing ghost guns using 3D printers, highlighting how easily accessible technology enables youth involvement in firearm-related threats within the broader Central Valley region.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(e)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Social media’s role in perpetuating harm demonstrates trends of online hate impacting youth futures and school environments.

For example, in February at Redwood High School in Visalia in the County of Tulare, students arranged shirts to spell a homophobic slur in a viral photo, leading to investigations, community backlash, and long-term online stigma that could hinder the futures of involved students while making LGBTQ+ youth feel unsafe and unwelcome in schools.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(f)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to protect the mental health, safety, and well-being of children and adolescents in California, particularly in underserved areas like Senate District 16, by addressing the growing impact of AI, digital technologies, and emerging threats on youths’ mental health development through improved coordination and privacy-protected information sharing.</xhtml:p></caml:Content></caml:BillSection>"?>

SECTION 1. (

a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1) Safe schools and communities are essential to pupil success, academic achievement, workforce development, and economic prosperity.

(2) Communities throughout California continue to experience challenges related to youth violence, chronic absenteeism, behavioral health needs, substance abuse, gang involvement, and emerging digital threats affecting youth and families.

(3) School safety, violence prevention, and pupil well-being are interconnected and require coordinated efforts among educators, families, behavioral health professionals, community organizations, emergency management professionals, and law enforcement agencies.

(4) Evidence-based violence prevention, early intervention, mentoring, counseling, and behavioral health services have been shown to improve educational outcomes, reduce violence, and increase community safety.

(5) Community-based organizations and local governments play a critical role in preventing violence before it occurs and connecting youth and families with needed support services.

(6) Some community-based organizations providing violence prevention and behavioral health services have experienced reductions or uncertainty in available funding, creating challenges in maintaining prevention-focused programs. (

b) It is the intent of the Legislature to support a comprehensive public safety strategy that addresses both the root causes of violence and the need for safe school and community environments.

SEC.

Article 5.1 (commencing with

Section 233.9) is added to

Chapter of Part of Division of Title of the Education Code , to read: 5.1.

Violence Prevention, Pupil Wellness, and School Safety Grant Program <caml:Num>233.9.</caml:Num><caml:LawSectionVersion id="id_4712A1BC-4B82-4068-8349-5A8BBEDD4C3E"><caml:Content><xhtml:p>The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(a)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Safe schools and communities are essential to student success, academic achievement, workforce development, and economic prosperity.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(b)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Communities throughout California’s central valley continue to experience challenges related to youth violence, chronic absenteeism, behavioral health needs, substance abuse, gang involvement, and emerging digital threats affecting youth and families.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(c)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>School safety, violence prevention, and student well-being are interconnected and require coordinated efforts among educators, families, behavioral health professionals, community organizations, emergency management professionals, and law enforcement agencies.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(d)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Evidence-based violence prevention, early intervention, mentoring, counseling, and behavioral health services have been shown to improve educational outcomes, reduce violence, and increase community safety.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(e)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Community-based organizations and local governments play a critical role in preventing violence before it occurs and connecting youth and families with needed support services.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(f)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Some community-based organizations providing violence prevention and behavioral health services have experienced reductions or uncertainty in available funding, creating challenges in maintaining prevention-focused programs.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(g)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>It is the intent of the Legislature to support a comprehensive public safety strategy that addresses both the root causes of violence and the need for safe school and community environments.</xhtml:p></caml:Content></caml:LawSectionVersion></caml:LawSection>"?> 233.9. (

a) The department, in consultation with the Office of Emergency Services, shall establish and administer the Violence Prevention, Pupil Wellness, and School Safety Grant Program. (

b) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the program shall award grants to eligible local educational agencies. (c)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Eligible applicants shall include all of the following:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(1)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Local educational agencies.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(2)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>County offices of education.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(3)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Community-based organizations.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(4)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Local governments.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(5)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Tribal governments.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(6)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Partnerships consisting of one or more of the entities identified in this subdivision.</xhtml:p>"?> (

c) Eligible applicants are encouraged to collaborate with community-based organizations, local governmental agencies, and tribal governments when applying for a grant under the program. (

d) Grant funds may be used for evidence-based violence prevention, pupil wellness, and public safety initiatives, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(1) School-based mental health services provided by school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers. (2)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>School counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(3)</xhtml:p>"?>

(2) Youth mentoring and positive youth development programs. (4)</xhtml:p>"?>

(3) Violence interruption and violence intervention programs. (5)</xhtml:p>"?>

(4) Behavioral health outreach and support services. (6)</xhtml:p>"?>

(5) Restorative justice and conflict resolution programs. (7)</xhtml:p>"?>

(6) Programs designed to improve school attendance and pupil engagement. (8)</xhtml:p>"?>

(7) Suicide prevention and crisis intervention services. (9)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Training for</xhtml:p>"?>

(8) Behavioral health training for educators, behavioral health professionals, and youth-serving personnel. (10)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Gang prevention and youth diversion programs.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(11)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Community violence reduction initiatives.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(12)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>School safety planning and emergency preparedness activities.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(13)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Development of multidisciplinary threat assessment and violence prevention teams.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(14)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Programs that strengthen collaboration between schools, community organizations, behavioral health providers, and local law enforcement agencies.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(15)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Youth engagement, mentorship, and prevention-focused partnerships involving local law enforcement agencies.</xhtml:p>"?> (

e) In awarding grants, the department shall prioritize programs that do all of the following:

(1) Serve communities with demonstrated needs related to youth violence, chronic absenteeism, behavioral health challenges, or public safety concerns.

(2) Use evidence-based or promising practices.

(3) Demonstrate collaboration among schools, community organizations, behavioral health providers, and public safety partners.

(4) Address the needs of underserved or rural communities. (

f) The department shall consult with representatives of the Office of Emergency Services, local educational agencies, county behavioral health departments, community-based organizations, and public safety agencies when the department develops guidelines for the program. (g)

(1) On or before January 1, 2029, the department shall submit a report to the Legislature evaluating the effectiveness of the grant program and providing recommendations regarding violence prevention, pupil wellness, school safety, and behavioral health investments. Each grant recipient shall submit findings to the department on the effectiveness of its activities funded by the grant which shall be used by the department to prepare the report. To the extent that it is feasible, the report shall also include all of the following: (

A) The number and type of grants awarded. (

B) The populations served by the program. (

C) The outcomes achieved by the program. (

D) Best practices identified via the program. (

E) Recommendations for future investments in violence prevention, public safety, and pupil wellness programs. (2) (

A) The requirement for submitting a report imposed under paragraph (1) is inoperative on January 1, 2033, pursuant to

Section 10231.5 of the Government Code. (

B) A report to be submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with

Section of the Government Code. (

h) For purposes of this section, “local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school. <caml:Num>SEC. 3.</caml:Num><caml:Content><xhtml:p>The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of

Section of

Article IV of the California Constitution because of unique challenges related to youth safety, chronic absenteeism, and emerging digital threats that face the central valley, including the Counties of Fresno, Kern, Kings, Tulare, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus.</xhtml:p></caml:Content></caml:BillSection>"?>