April 23rd, 2025
The Honorable Mike Fong
Assembly Higher Education Committee
1020 N Street, Room 173
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: MHAC Support for Assembly Bill 602 (Haney)
Dear Chair Fong,
Mental Health America of California (MHAC) is pleased to support AB 602 (Haney), legislation that would establish a harm reduction approach to supporting students who are experiencing substance use crises by protecting them from punitive academic disciplinary policies.
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. People experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis need to be able to seek help without fear of repercussions.
For youth, colleges and universities can impose various punishments on students found with drugs or involved in overdose incidents. While some CSU and UC campuses have medical amnesty policies, most only protect students in alcohol-related emergencies, not drug overdoses. Additionally, a disciplinary record can make it harder to transfer, graduate, or find a job, as many employers and professional licensing boards ask about academic misconduct.
The inconsistent implementation of these policies creates confusion and fear, leaving students afraid to call 911 in life-or-death situations. No student should have to choose between saving a life and risking their future. Without a clear, statewide policy, students fear severe consequences for seeking medical help, leading to dangerous delays in life-or-death situations. This bill will protect students involved in overdose emergencies by ensuring they are fully shielded from academic penalties.
This bill guarantees that neither the student experiencing an overdose nor bystanders who summon help will face any academic consequences. Students will no longer be punished for surviving an overdose, and the fear of severe academic penalties will no longer prevent them from seeking life-saving assistance. It is for these reasons MHAC supports AB 602 (Haney) 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
