CA AB1896

Amends Evidence Code Section 1035.2 to explicitly include sexual assault counselors employed by public or private institutions of higher education within the legal privilege protecting confidential communications between sexual assault counselors and victims.

Establishes the same qualifications and training requirements for campus-based sexual assault counselors as existing rape crisis center counselors, including completion of a training program and either professional credentials or 40 hours of supervised training in specified areas.

Clarifies that the confidential communications privilege for sexual assault victims extends to campus counseling programs, removing uncertainty about coverage of college-based sexual assault counselors.

Declares the Legislature's intent that this amendment is clarificatory and does not establish that the privilege was absent for campus counselors prior to enactment.

Requires a two-thirds vote of each house of the Legislature as mandated by the California Constitution for statutes excluding relevant evidence in criminal proceedings.