California Assembly Passes Reforms to Inter-District Transfer and Teacher Dismissal Hearings

Inter-district school transfers and sexual harassment protection

Sacramento, Calif. – The State Assembly unanimously passed AB 3086 (Kiley) and AB 2128 (Kiley), legislation to expand eligibility for inter-district school transfers and to protect students from sexual harassment.

AB 3086 allows foster, bullied, migrant, and homeless youth to transfer to a different school district without first receiving approval from their district of residence. The legislation is the most dramatic expansion to date of eligibility for inter-district transfers, building on several bills passed in the 2015-2016 legislative session that had granted transfer rights to children of school employees and military personnel.

“The lack of educational stability for homeless, migrant, foster, and bullied youth compounds the traumas and challenges they often face,” Assemblyman Kiley said. “This bill expands educational opportunity for our most vulnerable populations, and helps to ensure that these students have access to the programs and resources they need to thrive.”

AB 2196 strikes restrictions that prevent testimony older than four years from being used in a teacher dismissal hearing. Specifically, the bill eliminates the statute of limitations on testimony related to sexual harassment, inappropriate sexual communication with a pupil, and lewd or lascivious acts toward a pupil.

“Recent events have brought to light many of the statutory defects that have served to protect school employees with a history of sexual misconduct,” Assemblyman Kiley said. “This bipartisan legislation helps to ensure that school administrators have the tools they need to keep students safe.”

Assemblyman Kevin Kiley represents the 6th Assembly District, which includes the Sacramento, Placer, and El Dorado County communities of Cameron Park, El Dorado Hills, Fair Oaks, Folsom, Granite Bay, Lincoln, Loomis, Orangevale, Penryn, Rocklin, Roseville, and Sheridan.