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Photo: Legislation co-author Sasha Renée Pérez, as shown on the CA State Senate website and her Instagram profile.
Legislation designed to strengthen student safety in California schools is nearing its final test. SB 848, known as the Safe Learning Environments Act and authored by Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena), must clear votes in both the State Assembly and Senate this week to reach the governor’s desk.
If enacted, SB 848 would require schools to revise their Comprehensive School Safety Plans with clear procedures for preventing, detecting, and addressing employee sexual misconduct. The bill also broadens mandated reporting requirements, strengthens employee training, and revises key laws to improve student protections.
Senator Pérez, who also chairs the Senate Education Committee, said the measure is long overdue. “Every case of abuse represents a young person whose life has been altered and is left with lasting trauma. For schools, the financial toll of settlements is staggering as well. We must do better. Protecting our kids is the most basic promise we make. It is time that we start building real safeguards. SB 848 should be a bill we can all support.”
Assemblymember Josh Hoover (R-Folsom), a coauthor, echoed those concerns. “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.”
Survivors Call for Reform
Several survivors of school-based sexual abuse testified to the need for stronger protections.
“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.
“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.
Another survivor, Justine Ly, recalled how a trusted coach exploited her when she was a 15-year-old student. “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. SB 848 seeks to protect our most vulnerable youth from grooming. It holds predators and the systems that employ them accountable.”
Support From Advocates and School Leaders
Advocates for student safety have rallied behind the legislation.
Marivic Mabanag, President of Advocates for Child Empowerment & Safety, pointed to a recent $48 million judgment against the El Monte school district. “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.”
Heidi Goldstein, Board Chair at Stop Sexual Assault in Schools, stressed the importance of training and oversight. “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.”
Dr. Edgar Zazueta, Executive Director of the Association of California School Administrators, said the bill addresses a vital need. “Everything we do in public education is about supporting students. 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.”
Sara E. Pietrowski, Chief Governmental Relations Officer at the California Association of School Business Officials, added: “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.”
The Riverside County Office of Education also expressed support. “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.
Dave George, CEO of School Excess Liability Fund, emphasized both moral and financial accountability. “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.”
Are you or a loved one a survivor of sexual abuse in schools or other institutions? Learn more about your rights and options. Visit our Institutional Sexual Abuse Guide today.
