CALIFORNIA SB 596 AKA STFU & END THE THREATS AND VIOLENCE MOMS FOR LIBERTY BILL
Attention all parents! Are you tired of being threatened and all the violence at school board meetings? Well, fear not! California's SB 596, also known as the STFU & End the Threats and Violence Moms for Liberty legislation, is here to save the day. But will it really put an end to disruptive behavior at school events or just be another way for the board to blow off parents with "issues"?
Let's take a closer look at this bill. It aims to punish parents who harass school officials at board meetings by extending an existing law that bans parents from disrupting on-campus activities to include off-campus activities such as board meetings. If found guilty of harassment, parents could face a misdemeanor charge, a $500-$1,000 fine, and up to a year in jail. Yikes!
But hold up, Moms for Liberty is not having it. They believe the bill is just a way for Democrats to silence those who oppose sexually explicit material in the curriculum. I mean, who doesn't love a good conspiracy theory?
Critics of the bill argue that it's too ambiguous and could lead to parents being punished for speaking out on hot-button issues at board meetings. But let's be real, if you're causing a ruckus and making it impossible for anyone to get anything done, then maybe it's time to take a step back and reevaluate your approach.
Democratic state Sen. Anthony J. Portantino, who sponsored the bill, defends it by stating that it's intended to protect school employees from harassment and would not infringe on free speech. So, sorry Karen, you can't just scream "fake news" and expect to get away with it.
Now, let's talk about the elephant in the room. The MAGA mask protester who stormed the field in Brentwood, CA. Look, we all have our opinions on politics, but let's leave the masks out of it and focus on the game. No one wants to see your political statement while trying to enjoy some good old fashioned high school football.
But fear not, because California Senate Bill 596 is here to save the day! It aims to protect school employees from harassment and disruption by making it a misdemeanor for anyone to materially disrupt school activities or threaten or harass school employees in relation to their duties. So, if you're planning on storming the field with your political agenda, you might want to think twice.
In all seriousness though, let's remember that school events are meant to be a safe and inclusive environment for all students and teachers. We should be focusing on supporting our children's education and creating a positive atmosphere for everyone involved.
So, parents, let's be brave and stand up for our children's future. But let's also remember to do it in a respectful and constructive manner. And who knows, maybe one day we'll look back and laugh at how worked up we got over that one school board meeting. Or maybe not, but at least we tried.
In other news, a former staff member of Heritage High School was arrested at a football game after defying a ban to stay away from the campus. Carlos Hurtado was tackled by a bystander after running through the stadium. Moral of the story? Don't be like Carlos.
Bill Text: CA SB596 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended | LegiScan https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB596/id/2832553
Section 44811 - Conduct of parent, guardian or other person disrupting classwork or extracurricular activities, Cal. Ed. Code § 44811 | Casetext Search + Citator https://casetext.com/statute/california-codes/california-education-code/title-2-elementary-and-secondary-education/division-3-local-administration/part-25-employees/chapter-4-employment-certificated-employees/article-1-rights-and-duties/section-44811-conduct-of-parent-guardian-or-other-person-disrupting-classwork-or-extracurricular-activities
California mom claims Democrats 'trying to legislate First Amendment out of existence' with school bill | Fox News https://www.foxnews.com/media/california-mom-claims-democrats-trying-legislate-first-amendment-existence-school-bill
Ex-Teacher Arrested After Running onto Field During Heritage HS Football Game https://contracosta.news/2023/09/02/ex-teacher-arrested-after-running-onto-field-during-heritage-hs-football-game/
THE DEFT DIVE
FROM BING AI
California Senate Bill 596 is about protecting school employees from harassment and disruption. Here are some key points about this bill:
- - The bill was introduced by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank) on February 16, 2023¹ and passed the Senate Public Safety Committee on April 25, 2023².
- - The bill proposes to make it a misdemeanor for any person to **materially disrupt school activities** or **threaten or harass school employees** in relation to their duties¹. The bill defines these terms as follows:
- - Materially disrupt school activities means to substantially interfere with the orderly operation of a school or the ability of students or staff to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by the school¹.
- - Threaten or harass school employees means to engage in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of their immediate family, or to suffer substantial emotional distress¹.
- - A course of conduct means two or more acts, including, but not limited to, acts in which the person directly, indirectly, or through third parties, by any action, method, device, or means, follows, monitors, observes, surveils, threatens, or communicates to or about a person, or interferes with a person’s property¹.
- - The bill specifies that a person who commits this offense is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment¹.
- - The bill aims to provide a safe and inclusive environment for all students and teachers by addressing the issue of teachers facing harassment and greater scrutiny over lessons taught in the classroom².
Bing, 9/3/2023
