Bill > AB715

This bill establishes a comprehensive approach to preventing and addressing antisemitism and discrimination in California's educational settings. It creates a new Office of Civil Rights under the Government Operations Agency, which will be responsible for working directly with local educational agencies to prevent and address discrimination and bias. A key component of this office will be the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator, who will develop educational resources, provide antisemitism education to school personnel, and make recommendations to the Legislature on preventing antisemitism in schools. The bill prohibits the adoption or use of any instructional materials, professional development materials, or curricula that could subject students to unlawful discrimination, and requires school districts to investigate and remediate any discriminatory actions. It also mandates that school districts notify parents about new protections against discrimination, and requires the State Department of Education to create a dedicated webpage with antisemitism resources. If an organization is found to have provided discriminatory materials, they must reimburse all funds received and disclose their violation to other potential educational agency clients. The bill is part of a broader effort to address the increasing incidents of antisemitism in California, drawing on the United States National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, and aims to create safe, inclusive learning environments for all students, with a particular focus on protecting Jewish and Israeli pupils from harassment and discrimination.

Budget and Finance, Education, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB715