Bullying: California Bullying Prevention Clearinghouse.

Existing law defines "bullying" as any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or by means of an electronic act, as defined, and including one or more acts of sexual harassment, threats, or intimidation, directed against school district personnel or pupils, committed by a pupil or a group of pupils, that would cause a reasonable pupil, as defined, to be in fear of harm to his or her person or property, to experience a substantially detrimental effect on his or her physical or mental health, to experience substantial interference with his or her academic performance, or to experience substantial interference with his or her ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school. This bill would enact the Michael Joseph Berry Peer Abuse Prevention and Awareness Act of 2013, pursuant to which the California Bullying Prevention Clearinghouse would be established, to be administered by the State Department of Education. The bill would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to appoint members to a clearinghouse, California Bullying Prevention Advisory Council which would include individuals who have experience in specified areas, including, among others, hotline telephone services, social media, and behavioral health services. The bill would require the department to maintain the clearinghouse under the guidance of the clearinghouse advisory council, and would, among other things, require that the clearinghouse act as a repository of information on antibullying resources, links, and available services. The bill would require the department to recommend to school districts appropriate guidelines, best practices, and information that school districts may disseminate to pupils and their families about the existence, goals, and objectives of the California Bullying Prevention Clearinghouse, as specified. The bill would provide that its operation in any fiscal year is contingent upon the certification by the Superintendent that sufficient funding is available for the implementation of this bill in that fiscal year, and would prohibit the use of General Fund moneys to implement the bill.