A California law that takes effect in January requires schools to take more steps to prevent sexual abuse in K-12 schools, both public and private. The law requires schools to train teachers, coaches and other school staff on how to prevent and report sexual misconduct. It broadens the number of staff who are required to report abuse allegations and requires schools to write comprehensive policies on appropriate behavior. It also creates a database of teachers under investigation for misconduct that is an effort to stop teachers who face credible allegations from quitting and getting rehired at another school. Schools will be able to search the database as part of their hiring process. Although sexual abuse has long occurred in schools, the extent of the problem came to light in 2020 after the passage of AB 218, which made it easier for victims to sue school districts and other government agencies over sexual abuse. The law opened a floodgate of lawsuits that have so far cost California schools more than $3 billion and brought some districts to the brink of insolvency.