Employees: workplace violence prevention plans: topics and trainings.

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not specify the exact topics that must be included in the prevention plans or provide details on how often trainings should occur after the initial year.

Workplace Violence Prevention Plans and Training

This law requires schools and colleges to develop training programs on de-escalation techniques for employees who interact with students, and mandates that existing workplace violence prevention plans include new education-related topics.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the State Department of Education to develop a de-escalation training program by January 1, 2027, which must be available online.
• Schools and colleges must provide regular training on de-escalation techniques for employees who regularly interact with students starting in the 2026–27 academic year.
• Existing workplace violence prevention plans must include new education-related topics by July 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

• School districts
• County offices of education
• Charter schools
• Community colleges

Terms To Know

De-escalation techniques

Methods used to calm down a tense or violent situation.

Workplace violence prevention plan

A plan that outlines steps to prevent and respond to workplace violence.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill will only take effect if the state provides funding for it.
• Local educational agencies may need extra money from the state to follow these new rules.
• Details about specific topics required in prevention plans are not fully explained in the summary.

Official Summary Text

AB 1163, as amended, Elhawary.
Employees: workplace violence prevention plans: topics and trainings.
Existing law establishes the system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state, and provides for the establishment of the local educational agencies, including school districts, that establish and operate the schools and provide instruction to pupils throughout the state. Existing law also establishes the system of public higher education in this state, including the operation of community colleges.
This bill, contingent upon an appropriation for its purposes, would require the State Department of Education to, on or before January 1, 2027, develop a deescalation training and make it publicly available on its internet website. The bill would
require, commencing in the 2026–27 academic year, and annually thereafter, a school district, county office of education, charter school, or community college to, for employees who regularly interact with pupils or students, require training on deescalation techniques designed to minimize the likelihood of pupils or students committing violent acts, as provided. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law requires an employer, as specified, to establish, implement, and maintain, at all times in all work areas, an effective workplace violence prevention plan containing specified information. Existing law requires the employer to provide effective training to employees on the workplace violence prevention plan, as specified, initially when the plan is first established and annually thereafter.
This bill would require a
workplace violence prevention plan covering employees of a
school district, county office of education, charter school, or
community college district, on or before July 1, 2026, to cover additional education-related topics, as provided, and to be in person and allow for questions to be asked and answered by a natural person in real time. The bill would require the training, as revised under the bill, to occur before a new employee begins their duties and as soon as practicable for existing employees, and then annually for all employees. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall
be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF