SB 622
Educational equity: sex-segregated school programs and activities: sex at birth.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Education
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill changes California law regarding participation in school programs and activities, particularly athletic teams. It would require students to participate in these programs and use facilities consistent with the sex they were assigned at birth, rather than their gender identity as recorded. The bill also maintains existing policies about classes and counseling, ensuring equal access and exploration of diverse career options for all students.
Key provisions
- Requires pupil participation in sex-segregated programs and activities to align with ‘sex at birth’ instead of gender identity.
- Maintains existing provisions regarding equal access to classes regardless of sex.
- Preserves requirements for equal vocational and course counseling for students of different sexes.
- Requires school personnel to explore nontraditional career paths for students based on their sex at birth.
- Requires parental notification before career counseling sessions.
- Allows students to participate in physical education activities and sports based on their sex at birth.
Who is affected
- Students
- School districts
- School counselors
- Teachers
- Athletic teams and competitions
Notable changes
- Revises the existing law regarding gender identity in sex-segregated programs to prioritize ‘sex at birth’.
- Creates a distinction between gender identity and sex at birth for participation in school activities.
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SB622:v98#DOCUMENT
Bill Start
| Amended IN Senate March 26, 2025 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 622
| Introduced by Senator Grove |
| February 20, 2025 |
An act to amend Section 221.5 of the Education Code, relating to educational equity.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 622, as amended, Grove. Educational equity. equity: sex-segregated school programs and activities: sex at birth.
Existing law requires that a pupil be permitted to participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with the pupil’s gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records.This bill would revise and recast the provision related to a pupil’s participation in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, to instead require that a pupil’s participation in those programs and activities be consistent with the pupil’s sex at birth.
Existing law declares that it is the policy of the state that elementary and secondary school classes and courses be conducted without regard to the sex of the pupil enrolled in these classes or courses.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to that and related provisions.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 221.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:
221.5.
(a) It is the policy of this state that elementary and secondary school classes and courses, including nonacademic and elective classes and courses, be conducted without regard to the sex of the pupil enrolled in these classes and courses.
(b) A school district shall not prohibit a pupil from enrolling in a class or course on the basis of the sex of the pupil, except a class subject to Chapter 5.6 (commencing with Section 51930) of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2.
(c) A school district shall not require a pupil of one sex to enroll in a particular class or course unless the same class or course is also required of a pupil of the opposite sex.
(d) A school counselor, teacher, instructor, administrator, or aide shall not, on the basis of the sex of a pupil, offer vocational or school program guidance to a pupil of one sex that is different from that offered to a pupil of the opposite sex or, in counseling a pupil, differentiate career, vocational, or higher education opportunities on the basis of the sex of the pupil counseled. Any school personnel acting in a career counseling or course selection capacity to a pupil shall affirmatively explore with the pupil the possibility of careers, or courses leading to careers, that are nontraditional for that pupil’s sex. The parent or legal guardian of the pupil shall be notified in a general manner at least once in the manner prescribed by Section 48980, in advance of career counseling and course selection, commencing with course selection for grade 7, so that the parent or legal guardian may participate in the counseling sessions and decisions.
(e) Participation in a particular physical education activity or sport, if required of pupils of one sex, shall be available to pupils of each sex.
(f) (1) A pupil shall be permitted to participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with the pupil’s gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records.
(2) A pupil’s participation in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, shall be consistent with the pupil’s sex at birth.