CA AB1778

Requires California postsecondary institutions (community colleges, CSU, UC, and independent institutions) receiving state financial aid funds to conduct annual employee training starting January 1, 2018 on responding to and reporting sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking incidents involving students.

Establishes an affirmative consent standard defining it as affirmative, conscious, and voluntary agreement to sexual activity that must be ongoing and can be revoked at any time, with protections that lack of protest, silence, or past relationships do not constitute consent.

Prohibits institutions from accepting claims that the accused's intoxication, recklessness, or failure to take reasonable steps to verify consent as valid defenses in disciplinary proceedings.

Requires institutions to adopt victim-centered policies covering confidentiality, victim support, witness identification, trauma-informed training for investigators, and procedures for confidential reporting.

Mandates implementation of comprehensive prevention and outreach programs addressing sexual violence, including empowerment programming, awareness campaigns, bystander intervention, and integration of sexual assault policies into student orientation.