AB 915

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law requires instruction to be given in the elementary and secondary schools by appropriately trained instructors on drug education and the effects of the use of tobacco, alcohol, narcotics, dangerous drugs, as defined, and other dangerous substances. Existing law authorizes a public or private elementary or secondary school to determine whether or not to make emergency naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid antagonist and trained personnel available at its school, and to designate one or more volunteers to receive related training to address an opioid overdose, as specified. This bill would require those school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools, serving pupils in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, that voluntarily determine to make naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid antagonist available on campus to ensure that the naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid antagonist is placed in an appropriate location that is widely known and easily accessible, both during school hours and after school hours. The bill would require the naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid antagonist to be located on campus grounds in at least one of several specified locations. This bill would require the State Department of Public Health to establish, by March 1, 2025, a certification training program for public high school pupils in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to gain skills in how to identify and respond to an opioid overdose, including by administering naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray, as defined. The bill would authorize public high schools serving pupils in any of grades 9 to 12, inclusive, to voluntarily determine whether or not to host the program on their campuses. The bill would require the department to collaborate with local, state, and national organizations, as provided, to provide pupils with integrated, comprehensive, accurate, and unbiased educational materials on opioid and drug overdose prevention, opioid and drug safety, and stigma reduction. The bill would authorize program trainings to include instruction from appropriately trained instructors, as provided, and include informational videos, graphics, or in-person training on what to do and how to respond during a drug or opioid overdose, as well as information on how to recognize signs of a drug or opioid overdose and how to respond in an emergency involving a drug or opioid overdose. The bill would require the department to collect, on an annual basis, data on the number of pupils participating in the program and to share this information with the Legislature and the Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittees on Education, Health, and Human Services, as provided.