Central Valley Violence Prevention, Student Wellness, and School Safety Grant Pilot Program.

Existing law establishes the State Department of Education in state government, and vests the department with specified powers and duties relating to the state's public school system. Existing law declares the policy of the state to ensure that all local educational agencies work to reduce violence, improve pupil safety at schools, and improve the connections between pupils and supportive adults, schools, and communities. This bill would require the State Department of Education, in consultation with the Office of Emergency Services, to establish and administer the Central Valley Violence Prevention, Student Wellness, and School Safety Grant Pilot Program to, upon appropriation by the Legislature, award grants to eligible entities located in certain counties, for evidence-based violence prevention, student wellness, and public safety initiatives, as specified. The bill would require the department to consult with representatives of the office, local educational agencies, county behavioral health departments, community-based organizations, and law enforcement agencies when it develops guidelines for the program. The bill would also require each grant recipient to submit findings to the department on the effectiveness of its activities funded by the grant which shall be used by the department in a report to the Legislature evaluating the effectiveness of the grant program and providing recommendations regarding violence prevention, student wellness, school safety, and behavioral health investments in the central valley, on or before January 1, 2029. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Fresno, Kern, Kings, Tulare, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus.