State Senator Introduces Campus Harassment Bill

State Senator Bill Dodd, D-Napa, introduced legislation that intends to safeguard students from sexual misconduct and violence on college campuses.

Dodd’s proposal piggybacks on recommendations made by the California State Auditor and would extend to the University of California, California State University and California community college systems.

Dodd’s bill introduced Thursday– SB 1166– would make investigations on UC, CSU and community colleges subject to additional oversight, on top of Title IX requirements. It would tighten the reporting process and require more accountability from school administrators and others tasked with investigating these crimes on campus.

The bill is expected to be heard in its first policy committee in about a month, according to a press release from Dodd’s office.

Dodd’s proposal is a response to to numerous cases of sexual harassment and violence on CSU campuses within his district in recent years, including at Sonoma State University and the California Maritime Academy, according to the press release.

“Making our college campuses safer is a top priority, and it starts by improving the way we prevent and monitor these disturbing incidents,” Dodd said. “Right now, we have deficient standards and transparency in the investigation and reporting process, and there’s a serious lack of consistency and accountability from those in charge. My bill will incorporate key recommendations from the auditor’s report to create meaningful systemic and cultural change.”

Dodd represents California’s 3rd Senate District, including all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties.

In 2023 Dodd proposed a related bill–SB 808– that increased transparency and reporting requirements when handling campus harassment cases by requiring detailed reporting to the Legislature on investigations and outcomes of sexual harassment reports and formal sexual harassment complaints. The bill, which has since passed, also requires the California State University to post these annual reports on its website. SB 808 was co-sponsored by the California Faculty Association and California State University Employees Union.