AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 13, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 2, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

97

Introduced by Senator Ashby

February 18, 2026

An act to add Section 17603.5 to the Education Code, relating to pupil safety.

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

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law requires the governing board of a school district to determine the method of payment for construction contracts, including progress payments for completed portions of the work or for materials delivered on the ground or stored subject to the control of the board and unused.

This bill would require the governing board or body of a local educational agency, as defined, to ensure that the contract or contracts for any construction project, as defined, taking place during school hours include security provisions that limit access to the construction site and keep unauthorized individuals off school property. To the extent the additional contract terms would impose additional duties on local educational agencies or other local entities or officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

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

SECTION 1.

Section 17603.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:

17603.5.

(a) The governing board or body of a local educational agency shall ensure that the contract or contracts for any construction project taking place during school hours include security provisions that limit access to the construction site and keep unauthorized individuals off school property.

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

(1) “Construction project” means all construction, alteration, demolition, installation, repair, and maintenance work performed on a schoolsite.

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

SEC. 2.

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.