AB 1985

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, the California State University, the University of California, independent institutions of higher education, and private postsecondary educational institutions as the segments of postsecondary education in the state. This bill, which would be known as Sarah Shulze’s Law, would require the California State University, the California Community Colleges, and each private postsecondary educational institution and independent institution of higher education that receives state financial assistance, and would request the University of California, on or before July 1, 2028, to identify and compile a list of mental health training programs that can be used to train athletic coaches. The bill would require the trainings, at a minimum, to cover suicide prevention education. The bill would require each campus of the California State University, each community college of a community college district, and each private postsecondary educational institution and independent institution of higher education that receives state financial assistance, and would request each campus of the University of California, to require a person who serves as a coach in an athletic program, as a condition of the person’s employment or volunteer service, to complete one of the identified student mental health trainings on or before July 1, 2028, and every 2 years thereafter. By imposing new duties on community college districts, 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.