Assembly Bill 602 introduced by Assemblymember Matt Haney aims to enhance protections for students calling for help during drug overdoses by prohibiting disciplinary actions from colleges and universities. Current Good Samaritan laws do not cover campus discipline, leaving students vulnerable. The bill seeks to unify policies across all California higher education institutions and connect students with necessary support services. Advocates emphasize that without such policy changes, existing awareness programs are ineffective, as shown by personal accounts from students who faced punitive consequences rather than receiving compassionate assistance after overdoses.
"California's Good Samaritan Law already protects people from arrest or prosecution when they call for help during a medical emergency related to overdoses, but those protections do not currently extend to discipline on campuses."
"But without concrete policy changes like AB 602, these efforts amount to little more than empty promises."
"No one directed me to recovery spaces, therapy, academic support or even basic compassion and human reassurance."
"We talk a lot about destigmatizing mental health challenges and substance abuse disorders."
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