AB 9, known as Seth’s Law, is now on Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk after the Senate passed the bill last week. He is expected to sign it.
Seth’s Law is designed to address school bullying, especially against LGBT students, by providing California schools with tools to create a safe school environment for all students. The bill is named in memory of Seth Walsh, a 13-year-old gay student from Tehachapi who took his life in September 2010, after facing years of relentless anti-gay harassment at school.
“Public schools have tremendous power and responsibility to protect students from bullying and harassment,” said James Gilliam with the ACLU of California.
The bill is authored by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) and co-sponsored by a coalition of LGBT organizations, including Equality California, the ACLU of California, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Gay-Straight Alliance Network and The Trevor Project.
The San Diego City School District created its own anti-bullying policy in April of this year.
