Senate Bill No. 908
CHAPTER 867

An act to add and repeal Section 11758.05 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to public health.

[ Approved by Governor  September 28, 2024. Filed with Secretary of State  September 28, 2024. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 908, Cortese. Fentanyl: child deaths.
Existing law establishes the State Department of Public Health to implement and administer various programs relating to public health. The department administers the California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard that provides data on state- and local-level drug-related overdose outcomes for California, including, among other data, the number of deaths related to fentanyl overdoses. Existing law requires the department to update the dashboard to reflect additional information, as specified.
This bill would require the department to use best efforts to utilize all of its relevant data regarding overdoses in the state to monitor and identify current trends of fentanyl-related deaths of children 0 to 5 years of age, inclusive. The bill would require the department to develop guidance and spread awareness of the trends to protect and prevent children from fentanyl exposure. The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2026, to annually distribute its findings and guidance to local health departments, county boards of supervisors, and the Legislature. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2029.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 11758.05 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

11758.05.
 (a) The department shall use best efforts to utilize all of its relevant data regarding overdoses in the state to monitor and identify current trends of fentanyl-related deaths of children zero to five years of age, inclusive.
(b) The department shall develop guidance and spread awareness of the trends to protect and prevent children from fentanyl exposure.
(c) On or before January 1, 2026 the department shall annually distribute its findings and guidance to local health departments, county boards of supervisors, and the Legislature.
(d) A local health department or county board of supervisors may, but is not required to, adhere to guidance distributed by the department pursuant to this section.
(e) A report to be submitted to the Legislature pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(f) Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section shall remain in effect until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed.