Cal. Education Code § 49001 : Elementary And Secondary Education — California Education Code — Instruction And Services — Pupil Rights And Responsibilities — Prohibition Of Corporal Punishment — Corporal punishment defined; reasonable and necessary force; pain and discomfort by athletic competition or recreational activity; prohibition Date: 15 Sep 2016 TEXT PDF Current through the 2016 Legislative Session (a) For the purposes of this section "corporal punishment" means the willful infliction of, or willfully causing the infliction of, physical pain on a pupil. An amount of force that is reasonable and necessary for a person employed by or engaged in a public school to quell a disturbance threatening physical injury to persons or damage to property, for purposes of self-defense, or to obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects within the control of the pupil, is not and shall not be construed to be corporal punishment within the meaning and intent of this section. Physical pain or discomfort caused by athletic competition or other such recreational activity, voluntarily engaged in by the pupil, is not and shall not be construed to be corporal punishment within the meaning and intent of this section. (b) No person employed by or engaged in a public school shall inflict, or cause to be inflicted corporal punishment upon a pupil. Every resolution, bylaw, rule, ordinance, or other act or authority permitting or authorizing the infliction of corporal punishment upon a pupil attending a public school is void and unenforceable. Ca. Educ. Code § 49001