California enacts law to prevent sexual abuse in K-12 schools following Business Insider investigation

"California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law on Tuesday aimed at preventing sexual abuse in K-12 schools in the state. The legislation was triggered by Business Insider's 2023 investigation into a California high school. The Safe Learning Environments Act, sponsored by state Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez of Pasadena, will require public and private schools in California to revise their comprehensive safety plans to specifically address sexual abuse and employee sexual misconduct."

"It also establishes a new database aimed at preventing employees who face credible misconduct allegations from quitting and being rehired at another school. The legislation comes two years after an investigation by Business Insider's Matt Drange detailed evidence of decades of sexual abuse at Rosemead High School. That investigation found that employees who faced misconduct allegations were able to keep that information secret by switching schools - known colloquially as "passing the trash.""

Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Safe Learning Environments Act, requiring California public and private K-12 schools to revise comprehensive safety plans to address sexual abuse and employee sexual misconduct. The law creates a statewide database intended to prevent employees with credible misconduct allegations from resigning and being rehired at other schools. The measure followed a 2023 Business Insider investigation that detailed decades of sexual abuse at Rosemead High School and exposed the practice of employees keeping allegations secret by moving between schools, known as "passing the trash." The law arrives amid multiple related lawsuits against California high schools.

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