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Measure AB 347
Authors Kalra  
Subject Pupil instruction: animal dissection.
Relating To relating to pupil instruction.
Title An act to amend Section 33315 of, to amend, repeal, and add Sections 32255, 32255.1, 32255.3, 32255.4, and 32255.5 of, and to add Section 32255.7 to, the Education Code, relating to pupil instruction.
Last Action Dt 2025-03-18
State Amended Assembly
Status In Committee Process
Active? Y
Vote Required Majority
Appropriation No
Fiscal Committee Yes
Local Program No
Substantive Changes None
Urgency No
Tax Levy No
Leginfo Link Bill
Actions
2025-08-29     In committee: Held under submission.
2025-07-14     In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-07-02     From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-06-11     Referred to Com. on ED.
2025-06-03     In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-06-02     Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 68. Noes 3. Page 1928.)
2025-05-27     Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23     From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (May 23).
2025-04-09     In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-03-19     Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-03-18     Read second time and amended.
2025-03-17     From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (March 12).
2025-02-18     Referred to Com. on ED.
2025-01-30     From printer. May be heard in committee March 1.
2025-01-29     Read first time. To print.
Keywords
Tags
Versions
Amended Assembly     2025-03-18
Introduced     2025-01-29
Last Version Text
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		<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Kalra</ns0:AuthorText>
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		<ns0:Title> An act to amend Section 33315 of, to amend, repeal, and add Sections 32255, 32255.1, 32255.3, 32255.4, and 32255.5 of, and to add Section 32255.7 to, the Education Code, relating to pupil instruction.</ns0:Title>
		<ns0:RelatingClause>pupil instruction</ns0:RelatingClause>
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			<ns0:Subject>Pupil instruction: animal dissection.</ns0:Subject>
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			<html:p>Existing law authorizes a pupil with a moral objection to dissecting or otherwise harming or destroying an animal to refrain from participation in an educational project that involves the harmful or destructive use of animals. Existing law authorizes, if the pupil chooses to refrain and a teacher believes that an adequate alternative education project is possible, the teacher to work with the pupil to develop and agree upon an alternative education project in order to obtain the knowledge, information, or experience required by the course of study in question. Existing law requires each teacher teaching a course that uses live or dead animals or animal parts to inform the pupils of their
			 rights pursuant to these provisions. Existing law applies these provisions to all levels of instruction in all public schools operating programs in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive.</html:p>
			<html:p>Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish and implement a system of complaint processing, known as the Uniform Complaint Procedures, for specified educational programs.</html:p>
			<html:p>This bill, commencing July 1, 2026, if a pupil chooses to refrain from participation in an assignment or assessment involving the dissection of animals, would require a teacher to provide an alternative
			 assignment or assessment. The bill would prohibit a pupil’s grades from being impacted as a means of penalizing the pupil for exercising their rights concerning the dissection of animals. The bill would require a teacher to provide, at a pupil’s request, any sourcing information provided by the vendor or provider of the animals and information about the chemicals used to preserve the animals for dissection to which the pupil may be exposed. The bill would require a teacher, or a public school on behalf of the teacher, to provide written notice of the pupils’ rights that includes specified information, including, among other things, the above-described rights and the complaint procedures described below. The bill would require, by
			 the start of the 2026–27 school year, the State Department of Education to develop a template that a teacher, or a public school on behalf of the teacher, would be authorized to use to provide this written notice and to make the template available on its internet website. The bill would apply the above-described provisions to all public schools operating programs in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, including, but not limited to, public schools operated by school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, or state special schools, to the extent that the public school chooses to offer a course of study that uses live or dead animals or animal parts for purposes of dissection. The bill would encourage, by July 1, 2028, public schools to explore using effective alternative methods in lieu of
			 using live or dead animals or animal parts for dissection in a course of study, except as provided. The bill would
			 require, commencing July 1, 2026, the Uniform Complaint Procedures to apply to pupils’ rights to refrain from participation in an assignment or assessment involving the dissection of animals and to choose an alternative assignment or assessment.</html:p>
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			<ns0:VoteRequired>MAJORITY</ns0:VoteRequired>
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		<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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			<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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				Section 32255 of the 
				<ns0:DocName>Education Code</ns0:DocName>
				 is amended to read:
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					<ns0:Num>32255.</ns0:Num>
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							<html:p>As used in this chapter:</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(a)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								“Animal” means any living organism of the kingdom animalia, beings that typically differ from plants in capacity for spontaneous movement and rapid motor response to stimulation by a usually greater mobility with some degree of voluntary locomotor ability and by greater irritability commonly mediated through a more or less centralized nervous system, beings that are characterized by a requirement for complex organic nutrients including proteins or their constituents that are usually digested in an internal cavity before assimilation into the body proper, and beings that are distinguished from typical plants by lack of chlorophyll, by an inability to perform photosynthesis, by cells that lack cellulose walls, and by the frequent presence of discrete
						complex sense organs.
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							<html:p>
								(b)
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								“Alternative education project” includes, but is not limited to, the use of video recordings, models, films, books, and computers, which would provide an alternate avenue for obtaining the knowledge, information, or experience required by the course of study in question. “Alternative education project” also includes “alternative test.”
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								(c)
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								“Pupil” means a person under 18 years of age who is matriculated in a course of instruction in an educational institution within the scope of Section 32255.5. For the purpose of asserting the pupil’s rights and receiving any notice or response pursuant to this chapter, “pupil” also includes the parents of the matriculated minor.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(d)
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								This section shall become
						inoperative on July 1, 2026, and, as of January 1, 2027, is repealed.
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			<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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				Section 32255 is added to the 
				<ns0:DocName>Education Code</ns0:DocName>
				, to read:
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					<ns0:Num>32255.</ns0:Num>
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							<html:p>For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(a)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								“Animal” means any living organism of the kingdom animalia, beings that typically differ from plants in capacity for spontaneous movement and rapid motor response to stimulation by a usually greater mobility with some degree of voluntary locomotor ability and by greater irritability commonly mediated through a more or less centralized nervous system, beings that are characterized by a requirement for complex organic nutrients including proteins or their constituents that are usually digested in an internal cavity before assimilation into the body proper, and beings that are distinguished from typical plants by lack of chlorophyll, by an inability to perform photosynthesis, by cells that lack
						cellulose walls, and by the frequent presence of discrete complex sense organs.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(b)
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								“Alternative assignment or assessment” includes, but is not limited to, the use of video recordings, three-dimensional models, films, books, interactive simulation software and computers, and assessments of knowledge that would provide an alternate avenue for obtaining the knowledge, information, or experience required by the course of study in question.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(c)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								“Dissection” means the viewing of the, or act of, cutting into the body of an animal cadaver to study its anatomical structure. “Dissection” does not include fixed histological samples of any species, including, but not limited to, plain or stained microscope slides, owl pellets, human autopsy viewing, and plastinated human organs.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(d)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								“Pupil” means a person under 18 years of age
						who is enrolled in a course of study in an educational institution within the scope of Section 32255.5. For the purpose of asserting the pupil’s rights and receiving any notice or response pursuant to this chapter, “pupil” also includes the enrolled minor’s parent or guardian.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(e)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								This section shall become operative on July 1, 2026.
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			<ns0:Num>SEC. 3.</ns0:Num>
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				Section 32255.1 of the 
				<ns0:DocName>Education Code</ns0:DocName>
				 is amended to read:
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					<ns0:Num>32255.1.</ns0:Num>
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								(a)
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								Except as otherwise provided in Section 32255.6, any pupil with a moral objection to dissecting or otherwise harming or destroying animals, or any parts thereof, shall notify the pupil’s teacher regarding this objection, upon notification by the school of the pupil’s rights pursuant to Section 32255.4.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(b)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								If the pupil chooses to refrain from participation
						in an education project involving the harmful or destructive use of animals, and if the teacher believes that an adequate alternative education project is possible, the teacher may work with the pupil to develop and agree upon an alternate education project for the purpose of providing the pupil an alternate avenue for obtaining the knowledge, information, or experience required by the course of study in question.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(c)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The alternative education project shall require a comparable time and effort investment by the pupil. It shall not, as a means of penalizing the pupil, be more arduous than the original education project.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(d)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The pupil shall not be discriminated against based upon their
						decision to exercise their rights pursuant to this chapter.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(e)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Pupils choosing an alternative educational project shall pass all examinations of the respective course of study in order to receive credit for that course of study. However, if tests require the harmful or destructive use of animals, a pupil may, similarly, seek alternative tests pursuant to this chapter.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(f)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								A pupil’s objection to participating in an educational project pursuant to this section shall be substantiated by a note from
						the pupil’s parent or guardian.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(g)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2026, and, as of January 1, 2027, is repealed.
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			<ns0:Num>SEC. 4.</ns0:Num>
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				Section 32255.1 is added to the 
				<ns0:DocName>Education Code</ns0:DocName>
				, to read:
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					<ns0:Num>32255.1.</ns0:Num>
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								(a)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Except as otherwise provided in Section 32255.6, a pupil who is enrolled in a course of study that uses live or dead animals or animal parts for purposes of dissection and has a moral objection to the dissection of animals shall notify the pupil’s teacher regarding this objection, upon notification by the school of the pupil’s rights pursuant to Section 32255.4.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(b)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								If a pupil chooses to refrain from participation in an assignment or assessment involving the dissection of animals, the teacher shall provide the pupil with an alternative assignment or assessment for the purpose of providing the pupil an alternate avenue for obtaining the knowledge, information, or experience required by the course of study in question.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(c)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The alternative assignment or assessment shall require a comparable time and effort investment by the pupil. It shall not, as a means of penalizing the pupil, be more arduous than the original assignment or assessment.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(d)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								A pupil shall not be discriminated against based upon their decision to exercise their rights pursuant to this chapter.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(e)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								A pupil’s grades shall not be impacted as a means of penalizing the pupil for exercising their rights pursuant to this chapter.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(f)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								A pupil’s objection to participating in an assignment or assessment pursuant to this section shall be substantiated by a note from the pupil’s parent or guardian.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(g)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The teacher shall provide, at a pupil’s request,
						any sourcing information provided by the vendor or provider of the animals and information about the chemicals used to preserve the animals for dissection to which the pupil may be exposed.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(h)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								This section shall become operative on July 1, 2026.
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			<ns0:Num>SEC. 5.</ns0:Num>
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				Section 32255.3 of the 
				<ns0:DocName>Education Code</ns0:DocName>
				 is amended to read:
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					<ns0:Num>32255.3.</ns0:Num>
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								(a)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								A teacher’s decision in determining if a pupil may pursue an alternative educational project or be excused from the project shall not be arbitrary or capricious.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(b)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Nothing in this chapter shall prevent any pupil from pursuing the grievance procedures in existing law.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(c)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2026, and, as of January 1, 2027, is repealed.
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		<ns0:BillSection id="id_ECCB1475-8855-4C44-9136-DBE1AB4970DE">
			<ns0:Num>SEC. 6.</ns0:Num>
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				Section 32255.3 is added to the 
				<ns0:DocName>Education Code</ns0:DocName>
				, to read:
			</ns0:ActionLine>
			<ns0:Fragment>
				<ns0:LawSection id="id_6912B5EB-142D-4511-A871-B314D51C711D">
					<ns0:Num>32255.3.</ns0:Num>
					<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_96320C46-0CB7-4937-A9DD-593C1EE5B78B">
						<ns0:Content>
							<html:p>
								(a)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Nothing in this chapter shall prevent a pupil from pursuing the grievance procedures in existing law.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(b)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								This section shall become operative on July 1, 2026.
							</html:p>
						</ns0:Content>
					</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
				</ns0:LawSection>
			</ns0:Fragment>
		</ns0:BillSection>
		<ns0:BillSection id="id_348F4D54-F3FE-4C93-8EA7-E578292F3C80">
			<ns0:Num>SEC. 7.</ns0:Num>
			<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_AMENDED" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:EDC:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'TITLE'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'1.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'1.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'PART'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'19.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.3.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'32255.4.'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" ns3:type="locator">
				Section 32255.4 of the 
				<ns0:DocName>Education Code</ns0:DocName>
				 is amended to read:
			</ns0:ActionLine>
			<ns0:Fragment>
				<ns0:LawSection id="id_45113C5F-D49A-497F-8E3D-8AF2B4084730">
					<ns0:Num>32255.4.</ns0:Num>
					<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_4B477862-574C-48EA-8A33-9526FB921DCA">
						<ns0:Content>
							<html:p>
								(a)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Each teacher teaching a course that uses live or dead animals or animal parts shall also inform the pupils of their rights pursuant to this chapter.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(b)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								By the start of the 2026–27 school year, the department shall develop a template that a teacher, or a public school on behalf of the teacher, may use to provide written notice pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section
						32255.4, as added by Section 8 of Assembly Bill 347 of the 2025–26 Regular Session, and make the template available on its internet website.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(c)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2026, and, as of January 1, 2027, is repealed.
							</html:p>
						</ns0:Content>
					</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
				</ns0:LawSection>
			</ns0:Fragment>
		</ns0:BillSection>
		<ns0:BillSection id="id_1DF1EEB7-0BFC-45AA-89C7-5A11EF037F74">
			<ns0:Num>SEC. 8.</ns0:Num>
			<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_ADDED" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:EDC:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'TITLE'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'1.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'1.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'PART'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'19.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.3.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'32255.4.'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" ns3:type="locator">
				Section 32255.4 is added to the 
				<ns0:DocName>Education Code</ns0:DocName>
				, to read:
			</ns0:ActionLine>
			<ns0:Fragment>
				<ns0:LawSection id="id_5C9D31F6-DB43-4A9F-8D76-7056388DE4C4">
					<ns0:Num>32255.4.</ns0:Num>
					<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_B89FA0FE-0545-46D9-A33E-21354C8B26B4">
						<ns0:Content>
							<html:p>
								(a)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Each teacher teaching a course of study that uses live or dead animals or animal parts for purposes of dissection, or a public school on behalf of the teacher, shall provide written notice to each pupil and the pupil’s parent or guardian of the pupil’s rights pursuant to this chapter, including all of the following information:
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(1)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								A pupil’s right to refrain from participating in an assignment or assessment involving the dissection of animals pursuant to Section 32255.1.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(2)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The prohibition of impact on a pupil’s grades as a means of penalizing the pupil for exercising their rights pursuant to Section 32255.1.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(3)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								A pupil’s right to request, pursuant to Section 32255.1, any sourcing information provided by the vendor or provider of the animals and information about the chemicals used to preserve the animals for dissection to which the pupil may be exposed.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(4)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The complaint procedures described in Section 33315.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(b)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								By the start of the 2026–27 school year, the department shall develop a template that a teacher, or a public school on behalf of the teacher, may use to provide written notice pursuant to subdivision (a) and make the template available on its internet website.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(c)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								This section shall become operative on July 1, 2026.
							</html:p>
						</ns0:Content>
					</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
				</ns0:LawSection>
			</ns0:Fragment>
		</ns0:BillSection>
		<ns0:BillSection id="id_18F70778-5816-4FC4-85C0-2EE2028436D5">
			<ns0:Num>SEC. 9.</ns0:Num>
			<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_AMENDED" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:EDC:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'TITLE'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'1.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'1.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'PART'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'19.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.3.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'32255.5.'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" ns3:type="locator">
				Section 32255.5 of the 
				<ns0:DocName>Education Code</ns0:DocName>
				 is amended to read:
			</ns0:ActionLine>
			<ns0:Fragment>
				<ns0:LawSection id="id_60AB0985-2B7B-4599-B9BE-DCD09A315AEE">
					<ns0:Num>32255.5.</ns0:Num>
					<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_6D445994-293F-4215-BFD9-0FD44D3B76F5">
						<ns0:Content>
							<html:p>
								(a)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, this chapter applies to all levels of instruction in all public schools operating programs from kindergarten through grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(b)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2026, and, as of January 1, 2027, is repealed.
							</html:p>
						</ns0:Content>
					</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
				</ns0:LawSection>
			</ns0:Fragment>
		</ns0:BillSection>
		<ns0:BillSection id="id_A796417C-EFF1-46AD-BC8C-39A4B95A7139">
			<ns0:Num>SEC. 10.</ns0:Num>
			<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_ADDED" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:EDC:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'TITLE'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'1.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'1.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'PART'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'19.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.3.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'32255.5.'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" ns3:type="locator">
				Section 32255.5 is added to the 
				<ns0:DocName>Education Code</ns0:DocName>
				, to read:
			</ns0:ActionLine>
			<ns0:Fragment>
				<ns0:LawSection id="id_23366A90-3FEC-47AF-826A-873209B530BD">
					<ns0:Num>32255.5.</ns0:Num>
					<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_3C88B5F7-5846-449D-9A66-5EA2EC75EE02">
						<ns0:Content>
							<html:p>
								(a)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, this chapter applies to all levels of instruction in all public schools operating programs in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, including, but not limited to, public schools operated by school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, or state special schools, to the extent that the public school chooses to offer a course of study that uses live or dead animals or animal parts for purposes of dissection.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(b)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								This section shall become operative on July 1, 2026.
							</html:p>
						</ns0:Content>
					</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
				</ns0:LawSection>
			</ns0:Fragment>
		</ns0:BillSection>
		<ns0:BillSection id="id_84E34912-2675-4431-A17F-D597D42D4981">
			<ns0:Num>SEC. 11.</ns0:Num>
			<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_ADDED" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:EDC:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2F%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'32255.7'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" ns3:type="locator">
				Section 32255.7 is added to the 
				<ns0:DocName>Education Code</ns0:DocName>
				, to read:
			</ns0:ActionLine>
			<ns0:Fragment>
				<ns0:LawSection id="id_4BF24B66-9CD7-4A57-B445-08FAC9A21B08">
					<ns0:Num>32255.7.</ns0:Num>
					<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_25809332-AA3E-48B3-AEBD-9D105D19CC1E">
						<ns0:Content>
							<html:p>Public schools are encouraged, except as provided in Section 32255.6, to explore using effective alternative methods in lieu of using live or dead animals or animal parts for dissection in a course of study, by July 1, 2028.</html:p>
						</ns0:Content>
					</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
				</ns0:LawSection>
			</ns0:Fragment>
		</ns0:BillSection>
		<ns0:BillSection id="id_C98325BC-AC60-45DE-AD3B-E96552C00D1E">
			<ns0:Num>SEC. 12.</ns0:Num>
			<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_AMENDED" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:EDC:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'TITLE'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'2.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'PART'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'20.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'3.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'ARTICLE'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'1.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'33315.'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" ns3:type="locator">
				Section 33315 of the 
				<ns0:DocName>Education Code</ns0:DocName>
				 is amended to read:
			</ns0:ActionLine>
			<ns0:Fragment>
				<ns0:LawSection id="id_7AFA4A8A-C034-4D31-BA80-10C7838A53A7">
					<ns0:Num>33315.</ns0:Num>
					<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_86CB8E97-6230-4CF4-B0F2-C6F372A8A8E4">
						<ns0:Content>
							<html:p>
								(a)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The Superintendent shall establish and implement a system of complaint processing, known as the Uniform Complaint Procedures, for educational programs specified in paragraph (1). The department shall review the regulations set forth in Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations pertaining to uniform complaint procedures and, on or before March 31, 2019, shall commence rulemaking proceedings to revise those regulations, as necessary, to conform to all of the following:
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(1)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The Uniform Complaint Procedures shall apply to all of the following:
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(A)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Adult
						education programs established pursuant to Sections 8500 to 8538, inclusive, and Sections 52500 to 52617, inclusive.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(B)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Consolidated categorical aid programs as listed in subdivision (a) of Section 64000.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(C)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Migrant child education established pursuant to Sections 54440 to 54445, inclusive.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(D)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Career technical and technical education and career technical and technical training programs established pursuant to Sections 52300 to 52462, inclusive.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(E)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Childcare and development programs established pursuant to Sections 8200 to 8498, inclusive.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(F)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The filing of complaints that allege unlawful
						discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying against any protected group as identified under Sections 200 and 220 and Section 11135 of the Government Code, including any actual or perceived characteristic as set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, or on the basis of a person’s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics, in any program or activity conducted by an educational institution, as defined in Section 210.3, that is funded directly by, or that receives or benefits from, any state financial assistance.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(G)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Lactation accommodations pursuant to Section 222.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(H)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Educational rights of foster youth pursuant to Sections 48853, 48853.5, and 49069.5, and graduation requirements for foster youth, homeless
						youth, and other youth pursuant to Section 51225.1.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(I)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Pupil fees pursuant to Sections 49010 to 49013, inclusive.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(J)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Courses of study pursuant to Section 51228.3.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(K)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Instructional minutes for physical education pursuant to Section 51223.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(L)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Local control and accountability plans pursuant to Section 52075.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(M)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Juvenile court schools pursuant to Section 48645.7.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(N)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								School safety plans pursuant to Section 32289.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(O)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Deficiencies related to preschool health and safety issues for a
						California state preschool program pursuant to Section 8212.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(P)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								School or athletic team names, mascots, or nicknames pursuant to Section 221.3.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(Q)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Commencing July 1, 2026, pupils’ rights to refrain from participation in an assignment or assessment involving the dissection of animals and to choose an alternative
						assignment or assessment pursuant to Section 32255.1.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(R)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Any other state or federal educational program the Superintendent deems appropriate.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(2)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								As it pertains to child nutrition programs and established pursuant to Sections 49490 to 49570, inclusive, and special education programs established pursuant to Sections 56000 to 56865, inclusive, and Sections 59000 to 59300, inclusive, the Uniform Complaint Procedures shall expressly reference the federal provisions that govern complaints relative to these programs, as well as any additional applicable rules included within Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(3)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The department shall develop a pamphlet for parents that will
						explain the Uniform Complaint Procedures in a user-friendly manner and post this pamphlet on the department’s internet website.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(4)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Except for cases of complaints related to paragraph (2), a complainant who appeals a decision of a local educational agency under the Uniform Complaint Procedures set forth in Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations to the department shall receive a written appeal decision within 60 days of the department’s receipt of the appeal, unless extended by written agreement with the complainant or the department documents exceptional circumstances and informs the complainant.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(5)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Except for cases of complaints related to paragraph (2), for those complaints that are filed directly with the
						department under the Uniform Complaint Procedures set forth in Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations and the department determines merit direct intervention, the department shall complete an investigation and provide a written decision to the complainant within 60 days of receipt of the complaint, unless the parties have agreed to extend the timeline or the department documents exceptional circumstances and informs the complainant.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(6)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								If a local educational agency finds merit in a complaint, or the Superintendent finds merit in an appeal, filed under the Uniform Complaint Procedures set forth in Chapter 5.1 (commencing with Section 4600) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, the local educational agency shall take corrective actions consistent
						with the requirements of existing law that will provide a remedy to the affected pupil, or, in the case of complaints related to subparagraphs (I), (J), (K), and (L) of paragraph (1), to all affected pupils, parents, and guardians. For corrective actions related to subparagraph (I), remedies shall, where applicable, include reasonable efforts by the public school to ensure full reimbursement.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(7)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Information regarding the requirements of this section shall be included in the annual notification distributed to pupils, parents and guardians, employees, and other interested parties pursuant to Section 4622 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(b)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The department may adopt emergency regulations pursuant to Section 11346.1 of the Government Code to satisfy the requirements
						of this section. The adoption of emergency regulations shall be deemed an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(c)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Nothing in this section or those regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall prevent a local educational agency from using its local uniform complaint procedure to address complaints not listed in this section or those regulations.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(d)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								For purposes of this section, “local educational agency” has the same meaning as in Section 4600 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.
							</html:p>
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Last Version Text Digest Existing law authorizes a pupil with a moral objection to dissecting or otherwise harming or destroying an animal to refrain from participation in an educational project that involves the harmful or destructive use of animals. Existing law authorizes, if the pupil chooses to refrain and a teacher believes that an adequate alternative education project is possible, the teacher to work with the pupil to develop and agree upon an alternative education project in order to obtain the knowledge, information, or experience required by the course of study in question. Existing law requires each teacher teaching a course that uses live or dead animals or animal parts to inform the pupils of their rights pursuant to these provisions. Existing law applies these provisions to all levels of instruction in all public schools operating programs in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish and implement a system of complaint processing, known as the Uniform Complaint Procedures, for specified educational programs. This bill, commencing July 1, 2026, if a pupil chooses to refrain from participation in an assignment or assessment involving the dissection of animals, would require a teacher to provide an alternative assignment or assessment. The bill would prohibit a pupil’s grades from being impacted as a means of penalizing the pupil for exercising their rights concerning the dissection of animals. The bill would require a teacher to provide, at a pupil’s request, any sourcing information provided by the vendor or provider of the animals and information about the chemicals used to preserve the animals for dissection to which the pupil may be exposed. The bill would require a teacher, or a public school on behalf of the teacher, to provide written notice of the pupils’ rights that includes specified information, including, among other things, the above-described rights and the complaint procedures described below. The bill would require, by the start of the 2026–27 school year, the State Department of Education to develop a template that a teacher, or a public school on behalf of the teacher, would be authorized to use to provide this written notice and to make the template available on its internet website. The bill would apply the above-described provisions to all public schools operating programs in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, including, but not limited to, public schools operated by school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, or state special schools, to the extent that the public school chooses to offer a course of study that uses live or dead animals or animal parts for purposes of dissection. The bill would encourage, by July 1, 2028, public schools to explore using effective alternative methods in lieu of using live or dead animals or animal parts for dissection in a course of study, except as provided. The bill would require, commencing July 1, 2026, the Uniform Complaint Procedures to apply to pupils’ rights to refrain from participation in an assignment or assessment involving the dissection of animals and to choose an alternative assignment or assessment.