Children’s Protection Bill Passes Senate Appropriations Committee

A bill aimed at improving safeguards for nonpublic school students passed the Senate Appropriations Committee on Friday, moving onto a full Senate vote.

Senate Bill 373, authored by Senators Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) and Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), would target nonpublic schools (NPS), which are state approved private schools for students with special needs and Individualized Education Programs (IEP) that go beyond what public schools can offer. SB 373 would expand the rights of students’ parents by requiring that they be given copies of their rights and procedural safeguards, and be given information on how to contact the State Department of Education’s Equitable Services Ombudsman. In addition, the bill would require, before certifying a nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency, the Superintendent to take additional actions, including, among other things, to review policies on restraint to evaluate consistency with California laws.

SB 373 would also set up  monitoring visits to include an in-person, private meeting with the pupil to evaluate their health and safety, as well as establishing extra certification requirements for out-of-state nonpublic schools, including strict protocols regarding the use of physical restraints and isolation use, enhanced rights awareness, robust complaint mechanisms, and informed consent processes.

Grove and Rubio wrote the bill to follow up on previously passed legislation that increased similar protections for the placement of foster youth in out-of-state facilities. The Senators said that they wanted to expand to nonpublic school students, with Local Education Agencies (LEAs) being mandated to conduct quarterly unmonitored phone check‑ins and hold annual in‑person private meetings during each onsite visit, all to boost student health and safety. Joining the Senators was a celebrity backer, socialite Paris Hilton, a survivor of abuse in those settings who pressed for accountability and transparency.

“This bill is a powerful step toward protecting youth placed in out-of-state residential facilities when their school districts can’t meet their needs,” noted Hilton earlier this year. “Every young person deserves access to safe, supportive care — especially when they’re far from their families and homes. As someone who survived abuse in these settings, I’m committed to transforming this system and creating a future where transparency, accountability, and compassion are the standard.”

The bill has seen widespread support since being introduced earlier this year, including a previous 7-0 unanimous Senate Education Committee vote in April. This was followed up by the critical Appropriations Committee vote on Friday.

“I am pleased to announce that SB 373, a bipartisan bill to enhance safeguards for California’s most vulnerable students placed in out-of-state nonpublic schools, has passed the Senate Appropriations Committee,” said Senator Shannon Grove in a statement. “With nearly 300 California children still residing in these facilities, often far from home and with limited oversight, this legislation is a critical step forward. The state must do everything in its power to ensure the safety, well-being, and dignity of these students by providing consistent oversight, clear accountability, and strong protections. Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and seen, no matter where they are placed.”

SB 373 will now face the final hurdle in the Senate, a chamber-wide vote. If passed the bill will then move onto the Assembly.