Employees: workplace violence prevention plans: topics and trainings.

Assembly Member Elhawary's workplace violence prevention legislation mandates new deescalation training requirements for California educational institutions while expanding existing safety protocols. The Department of Education must develop and publish a standardized deescalation training program by January 2027, which school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, and community colleges will implement for employees who regularly interact with students beginning in the 2026-27 academic year.

The required one-hour training covers developmentally appropriate deescalation techniques aligned with existing laws on student discipline, manifestation determinations, and restraint policies. Educational institutions may offer the training in person or virtually, with flexibility to extend duration or frequency through agreements with employee representatives. For community college districts specifically, workplace violence prevention plans must incorporate in-person training by July 2026, allowing real-time questions and covering both preventive techniques and strategies for safely reintegrating students after incidents.

The Department of Education will monitor compliance through established annual program reviews. Local agencies may receive state reimbursement for costs associated with implementing these mandated changes, subject to determination by the Commission on State Mandates. The training program's development remains contingent on dedicated funding through the state budget or other legislation.