Bill would require schools to address construction and maintenance access in safety plans

Sen. Ashby presented SB 1140, the Safe School Campus Act, saying the bill directs schools to include construction and repair access protocols in their existing safety plans so workers' presence does not create unattended access points that could be exploited.

Mitch Steiger of the California Federation of Teachers, the bill sponsor, said the measure is designed to be straightforward and flexible so each school’s safety committee can tailor steps to limit unattended entries during projects without discouraging maintenance work. Steiger cited incidents where doors or gates were left unsecured during construction or maintenance and said the goal is prevention rather than response.

Supporters in the room included Brady Campaign/Brady California, MOMS Demand Action, the California School Employees Association and other labor and community groups. During questioning, Sen. Choi asked whether the bill covers both new construction sites and routine maintenance scenarios and who would monitor doors left propped open; proponents said the bill is intended to apply to any site where students are present during work and to be implemented through existing local safety-plan processes rather than by creating a prescriptive statewide mandate.

Sen. Ashby closed by asking for an affirmative vote. The committee voted to send SB 1140 to the Senate Appropriations Committee; the item was placed on call and later reported by the committee.