SB 848, the Safe Learning Environments Act, moves to Governor’s desk

SACRAMENTO – SB 848, the Safe Learning Environments Act, authored by Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) has passed the Legislature and is enroute to Governor Newsom’s desk.

This legislation would strengthen student safety in California by requiring schools to update their Comprehensive School Safety Plans with clear procedures for preventing, detecting, and addressing employee sexual misconduct. SB 848 also broadens mandated reporting requirements, enhances employee training, and revises relevant provisions in law to ensure stronger protections.

“This legislation is very personal to me,” said Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena), Chair of the Senate Education Committee. “I experienced child grooming when I was in high school. A school staff member tried to initiate a romantic relationship with me. Fortunately, I ran away because I understood that something very inappropriate was happening. In authoring this legislation, I’ve met with a number of survivors whose powerful stories inspire me to change the laws so we can better protect all of our students.”

California lacks a comprehensive, standardized approach to preventing abuse in K-12 schools. A 2023 report from the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) identified breakdowns in oversight and accountability that have allowed abuse to persist unchecked. 

According to FCMAT, the best estimate of total claims brought to date under a 2019 lawthat expanded the statute of limitations childhood sexual abuse is between $2 and $3 billion.

“The financial toll of the claims is staggering. But behind every case of abuse is a young person whose life has been altered and is left with lasting trauma. We must do better. It is time we start building real safeguards. I urge Governor Newsom to continue his commitment to California’s children and sign SB 848,” said Senator Pérez.

“Time and time again, our school system has failed too many kids from sexual misconduct. I’m a proud coauthor of SB 848, which puts students’ safety first by strengthening efforts to prevent sexual abuse and harassment of our school children,” said Assemblymember Josh Hoover (R-Folsom), co-author of SB 848. 

What SB 848 supporters are saying:

“A law like SB 848 would have adequately educated me about grooming behaviors. I would have known that these interactions were inappropriate and reported them. My abuser would be in jail and never be able to work around children again,” said Cindy Lam, a survivor of teacher sexual abuse. “Students and children across California deserve this common sense protection, and we as a society can no longer afford to fail them.”

“If a law like SB 848 had existed, at least one of the teachers who harmed me — a teacher with a known history of misconduct — would not have been allowed to keep teaching. SB 848 must be passed so that no student ever has to go through what I — and so many others — have endured. We need action, not just words,” said Leslie Gaitan, a survivor of teacher sexual abuse.

“As a student at Rosemead High, I entered a sexual relationship with a staff member at the school when I was 15 years old. I was excited to join the tennis team with my friends the summer before my freshman year. The coach encouraged extra lessons which initially started with 2 other students at school, but soon became 1 on 1 sessions. The people that were supposed to protect youth like me, were complicit. Today, I am a public school teacher, yet my own experience reminds me how I was failed by an education system meant to nurture, protect, and uplift. I know we must do more to protect our youth. SB 848 seeks to protect our most vulnerable youth from grooming. It holds predators and the systems that employ them accountable. It challenges us to be better human beings. The legislature has the power to make our schools safer for children — or continue to protect those that prey upon them,” said Justine Ly, a survivor of school sexual abuse.

 “As recently as April of this year, El Monte school district in Southern California was ordered to pay $48 million in connection with the sexual molestation of six students over several years by a former elementary school teacher. School sexual abuse is not only costing the schools but tragically, it is traumatizing and costing the lives of our young children. The California State Assembly has the opportunity and the moral duty now to pass SB 848 to prevent sexual abuse of our young students in the schools,” said Marivic Mabanag, President, Advocates for Child Empowerment & Safety.

“SB 848 will ensure all schools provide clear, reliable guidance so students know how to recognize abuse and where to turn for help. Additionally, SB 848 expands mandatory reporting requirements and training to include school volunteers and board members ensuring more people are watching out for students and are willing to act when something seems wrong. We urge the legislature to approve SB 848 because it is important and valuable to the well-being of California’s school age children,” said Heidi Goldstein, Board Chair at Stop Sexual Assault in Schools.

“Everything we do in public education is about supporting students,” said Dr. Edgar Zazueta, Executive Director of the Association of California School Administrators. “Classified school employees deliver critical services and often work directly with students, whether in the classroom, on campus or at school events. We recognize the importance of this legislation and the urgency to prioritize student safety."

 “CASBO proudly supports SB 848 because student safety must be our utmost priority. Preventing abuse not only protects children but also reduces costly claims that jeopardize resources for teaching and learning,” said Sara E. Pietrowski, Chief Governmental Relations Officer at California Association of School Business Officials.

“One of the fundamental principles guiding the Riverside County Office of Education’s advocacy on behalf of public schools is to support policies that provide safe learning environments for all students.  There is a shared responsibility of all school leaders to stop incidents of childhood sexual assault from occurring, once and for all. Senate Bill 848 represents a large step toward achieving that goal, and we are grateful to Senator Pérez for her courageous efforts to ensure that the bill is signed into law,” said Jeffrey A. Vaca, Riverside County Office of Education.

"SB 848 sends a powerful message: the safety and well-being of our students is non-negotiable. At SELF, we wholeheartedly support the state’s commitment to working in partnership with districts to strengthen systems for the prevention and detection of sexual misconduct. This collaborative approach not only helps protect students—it also supports districts in reducing the risks and long-term liabilities associated with childhood sexual assault,” said Dave George, CEO of School Excess Liability Fund.

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Senator Sasha Renée Pérez is Chair of the Senate Education Committee and represents the 25th Senate District that includes the communities of Glendale, Pasadena, Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Claremont, Glendora, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Temple City, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, and San Antonio Heights.