March 24th, 2025
The Honorable Mia Bonta
Assembly Health Committee
1020 N Street, Room 390
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: MHAC Support for Assembly Bill 309 (Zbur)
Dear Chair,
Mental Health America of California (MHAC) is pleased to support AB 309 (Zbur), legislation that would allow a physician or pharmacist to continue providing clean and safe hypodermic needles and syringes to individuals 18 years or older without a prescription or permit.
MHAC is a peer-run organization leading the state in behavioral health public policy and advocacy since 1957. The mission of MHAC is to assist and encourage communities, families and individuals to experience hope, wellness and recovery from mental health and substance use disorder issues through voluntary services that are delivered in their local community with compassion and respect for everyone’s dignity and autonomy. MHAC recognizes the importance of harm reduction strategies that support individuals on their path to recovery while safeguarding public health.
Recovering from a substance use disorder is a journey, often nonlinear, with progress and setbacks. Individuals who use substances requiring hypodermic needles face numerous challenges and should not be further harmed while working towards recovery. Access to clean syringes is a proven harm reduction strategy that prevents the transmission of HIV, viral hepatitis, and other bloodborne diseases, ultimately improving public health and safety.[1] The distribution of safe and clean needles and syringes ensures that if individuals experience a setback in their recovery the harm done to them is minimized.
This bill is a critical step toward reducing preventable harm and protecting community health. It is for these reasons MHAC supports AB 309 (Zbur) and asks for your “Aye” vote. If you have any questions, or if MHAC can provide any assistance on this bill or any behavioral health legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me at hstrunk@mhac.org or our Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari, at kvicari@mhaofca.org.
In Community,
Heidi L. Strunk
President & CEO
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-b). Syringe Services Programs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.