March 29, 2023
The Honorable Tom Umberg
State Senate
1021 O St., Suite 6530
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Support for SB 250 (Umberg)
Dear Senator Umberg:
The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is pleased to Support SB 250, which expands California’s 911 Good Samaritan law to decriminalize the self-reporting of fentanyl poisonings and opioid overdoses to law enforcement and the receiving of medical assistance through medical devices such as smart watches.
The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is a youth-led statewide network comprised of TAY Action Teams and CAYEN Board members which engages, empowers and represents Transitional Age Youth (TAY), ages 15-26, in mental health advocacy on issues that directly affect TAY. Since CAYEN’s inception in 2006, CAYEN has taken many forms of action to empower TAY in their personal lives and spark progressive change in public policy.
Overdoses frequently occur when an individual ingests a pill or other substance that has been laced with fentanyl. SB 250 will encourage the use of fentanyl testing strips by eliminating the criminalization that would otherwise result from the individual’s reporting of fentanyl adulteration. In addition to guaranteeing that people receive help and not handcuffs, SB 250 provides an opportunity to get Fentanyl off the street and decrease further poisonings or overdoses from occurring to themselves and their community.
For these reasons, we support Senate Bill 250. If you or your staff have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at dthirakul@mhac.org, or our Interim Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari at kvicari@mhacofca.org.
In Community,
Danny Thirakul
Public Policy Coordinator
California Youth Empowerment Network
