AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 13, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 9, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

96

Introduced by Assembly Members Davies and Chen

January 12, 2026

An act to add Article 9 (commencing with Section 49397) to Chapter 8 of Part 27 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, relating to pupil safety.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law establishes the State Department of Education in state government, and vests the department with specified powers and duties relating to the state’s public school system. Existing law establishes the Department of the California Highway Patrol, under the control of the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol, within the Transportation Agency. Existing law requires the Department of the California Highway Patrol to develop statewide safety and training programs based on evidence-based practices for users of electric bicycles.

This bill would require, on or before March 1, 2028, the State Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, to develop a standardized electric bicycle safety and training program for pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, as provided. In developing the program, the bill would authorize the State Department of Education and the Department of the California Highway Patrol to collaborate with local law enforcement agencies or local governments that have implemented electric bicycle training programs already to ensure the program reflects proven best practices. The bill would encourage local educational agencies and parent organizations to offer training demonstrations to pupils and parents on electric bicycle operations in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies or local governments, as specified.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Article 9 (commencing with Section 49397) is added to Chapter 8 of Part 27 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:

Article 9. Electric Bicycle Safety

49397.

(a) (1) On or before March 1, 2028, the department, in consultation with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, shall develop a standardized electric bicycle safety and training program for pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive.

(2) The program developed pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include, but is not limited to, an online component consisting of instructional videos and a knowledge-based comprehensive assessment covering rules of the road, operating differences between the classes of electric bicycles, required safety equipment, and the civil and criminal implications of operating noncompliant electric bicycles that exceed legal speed limits.

(3) The department and the Department of the California Highway Patrol may collaborate with local law enforcement agencies or local governments that have already implemented electric bicycle training programs to ensure the program developed pursuant to paragraph (1) reflects proven best practices.

(b) A local educational agency or parent organization, in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies or local governments, is encouraged to offer training demonstrations to pupils and parents on electric bicycle operations related to safe mounting, braking, signaling, yielding, and riding protocols. These training demonstrations may be administered on school campuses or at a designated community facility.

(c) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Classes of electric bicycles” include “class 1 electric bicycles,” “class 2 electric bicycles,” and “class 3 electric bicycles,” as defined in Section 312.5 of the Vehicle Code.

(2) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.