Bill Text: CA AB889 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Assembly Bill 889

Bill Title: Pupil safety: parental notification: synthetic drugs.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2023-07-27 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 123, Statutes of 2023. [AB889 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB889-Chaptered.html

Assembly Bill No. 889

CHAPTER 123

An act to add Section 48985.5 to the Education Code, relating to pupil safety.

[ Approved by Governor July 27, 2023. Filed with Secretary of State July 27, 2023. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 889, Joe Patterson. Pupil safety: parental notification: synthetic drugs.

Existing law requires the governing board of a school district, at the beginning of the first semester or quarter of each school year, to notify parents or guardians of minor pupils of specified rights and responsibilities of the parent or guardian and of specified school district policies and procedures.

This bill would require a school district, county office of education, and charter school to annually inform parents or guardians of the dangers associated with using synthetic drugs, as provided, at the beginning of the first semester or quarter of the regular school term. The bill would require a local educational agency and each of their schools to post this information on their respective internet websites, as specified. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 48985.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:

48985.5.

(a) A local educational agency shall inform the parents or guardians of each enrolled pupil about the dangers associated with using synthetic drugs that are not prescribed by a physician, such as fentanyl. Parents or guardians shall also be informed of the possibility that dangerous synthetic drugs can be found in counterfeit pills.

(b) (1) The information shall be annually provided to parents or guardians at the beginning of the first semester or quarter of the regular school term.

(2) The information may be provided to parents or guardians pursuant to Section 48980.

(c) If a local educational agency maintains an internet website, the local educational agency shall post the information on their internet website and shall ensure that each individual school within the local educational agency that maintains an individual internet website also posts the information on that school’s internet website.

(d) As used in this section, a “local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.

SEC. 2.

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.