Overview
- Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the legal alert Wednesday and launched a six‑language “Know Your Rights” webpage as part of a broader push that follows recent district settlements.
- The alert says that once a report is made, districts must stop the misconduct, remove any hostile environment, address harm already done, and prevent further harm.
- Families may report to any school employee, and districts must contact parents and notify law enforcement or child welfare when abuse is alleged, with protections against retaliation and a choice of formal or informal resolution.
- The guidance spotlights SB 848, a 2025 law that requires every district to adopt a comprehensive school safety plan by July 1, 2026 to protect children from abuse, neglect, or sex offenses.
- The DOJ cited one school year with 2,700 sexual assaults, 350 rapes or attempts, and 17,000 sex‑based harassment reports, plus $2–$3 billion paid by California districts from 2019–2023, underscoring the scale and financial risk driving these changes.