CA SB169

Amends Education Code to define "sexual harassment" to include "sexual violence," bringing state law into alignment with federal Title IX regulations and the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights guidance issued April 4, 2011.

Requires elementary and secondary schools and higher education institutions receiving state financial assistance to designate at least one employee as a gender equity coordinator to oversee compliance efforts and answer questions regarding gender equity laws.

Mandates higher education institutions adopt grievance procedures by January 1, 2019, providing prompt and equitable resolution of sexual harassment complaints, including investigation procedures, student rights protections, and disciplinary measures.

Establishes that schools using a "preponderance of the evidence" standard for determining whether sexual harassment or sexual violence occurred, and specifies that a single severe incident can create a hostile environment without requiring proof of repeated conduct.

Requires higher education institutions to adopt regulations by July 1, 2018, ensuring implementation is consistent with federal Title IX regulations, and imposes state-mandated local program costs subject to reimbursement procedures.