SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Senate Public Safety Committee passed Senate Bill 19 (SB 19), the Safe Schools and Places of Worship Act (“The Act”), authored by Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) with a bipartisan 6-0 vote. The bill is a critical measure that will close loopholes in current California law that allow credible threats against schools or places of worship to go unpunished simply because no specific individual is named in the threat.

“As a teacher with 20 years in the classroom, I’ve seen firsthand how threats against schools disrupt learning, traumatize students, and leave families fearing for their children’s safety,” said Senator Rubio. “No parent should have to wonder if their child is safe at school. No family should second-guess visiting a place of worship out of fear.”

“Right now, California law falls short. Unless a threat names a specific individual, officials have limited options, even when the danger is clear. SB 19 closes this gap and reaffirms a basic truth: safety in schools and places of worship is not negotiable,” Senator Rubio continued.

Currently, California law makes it a crime to issue a credible threat of great bodily harm, but only if the threat is directed at a specific person. This creates a dangerous gap in enforcement, as threats against entire schools, religious institutions, and other public spaces can go uncharged, even when they cause panic, disrupt daily operations, and require costly law enforcement responses.

What The Act Does:

• Closes a dangerous loophole by allowing prosecutors to charge individuals who make credible threats of mass violence against schools and places of worship, even if they don’t name a specific person.
• Clarifies that threats against institutions, not just individuals, are criminal offenses when they create a reasonable fear of imminent violence and disrupt the ability of schools and faith communities to function safely.
• Ensures accountability for those who knowingly and intentionally make threats by recognizing that even false threats can cause widespread panic, school closures, and costly law enforcement responses.
• Maintains existing legal standards requiring that a threat must be deliberate, credible, and cause actual fear, meaning a passing comment, vague statement, or artistic expression will not be criminalized.
• Provides law enforcement and prosecutors with a clear legal framework to act on serious threats before they escalate, rather than waiting until violence occurs.

What The Act Does Not Do:

• It does NOT criminalize free speech. The bill only applies to “true threats” or explicit statements that reasonably cause fear of imminent violence. Speech that is vague, hypothetical, artistic, or political remains fully protected under the First Amendment. Prosecutors must still prove intent before bringing charges.
• It does NOT criminalize students for non-threatening behavior. Schools retain full discretion to use counseling, discipline, or restorative justice when students make impulsive comments that do not meet the legal definition of a credible threat. A student venting frustration, writing a fictional story, or making an offhand joke is NOT criminalized under the bill.
• It does NOT expand law enforcement’s presence in schools. The bill does not mandate additional policing measures. It only clarifies when existing law enforcement responses can result in charges.
• It does NOT target mental health crises. The bill does not criminalize people experiencing a psychiatric emergency. Existing protections remain in place for individuals whose statements result from a crisis rather than a deliberate attempt to cause harm.

Why the Safe Schools and Places of Worship Act is Needed

Recent cases demonstrate the urgent need for The Safe Schools and Places of Worship Act.

• In San Diego, a 38-year-old man sent hundreds of emails threatening a mass shooting at an elementary school. The case was dismissed because the threats weren’t directed at a specific person. Prosecutors later refiled the charges with the principal as the named victim.^[1]
• A California teenager made nearly 400 threats of mass violence against schools and religious institutions across the country, yet many of the cases were difficult to prosecute under current state law.^[2]
• Just this month in Claremont, a “swatting” call falsely reporting an active shooter at Claremont McKenna College prompted a massive police response and campus lockdown, causing panic among students.^[3] 

The bill has drawn strong support from law enforcement agencies, education leaders, and faith-based organizations that recognize the need to protect schools and places of worship from violent threats.

Senator Rubio is available for interviews in English or Spanish. To schedule an interview, please contact Brian Wheatley at brian.wheatley@sen.ca.gov.

For more information, visit the website of Senator Susan Rubio at https://sd22.senate.ca.gov/

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^[1] City News Service. “Man Accused of Threatening Mass Shooting at San Diego Elementary School Charged Again.” NBC 7 San Diego, 19 Oct. 2024, https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/man-accused-of-threatening-mass-shooting-at-san-diego-elementary-school-charged-again/3653214/.

^[2] Sanders, Hank. “Teen Who Made Nearly 400 Swatting Calls to Schools and Officials Pleads Guilt.” New York Times, 13 Nov. 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/13/us/swatting-calls-california-teen-guilty.html.

^[3] Harter, Clara, et al. “False report of shooter at Claremont College is SoCal’s second ‘swatting’ call in 48 hours.” Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-03-13/possible-active-shooter-reported-at-claremont-mckenna-college-students-warned-to-shelter-in-place.