March 24th, 2025
The Honorable Al Muratsuchi
Chair, Assembly Education Committee
1020 N Street, Room 159
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Support for Assembly Bill 727 (González)
Dear Chair,
The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is pleased to support Assembly Bill 727 (González), legislation that would require schools and institutions of higher education to provide the Trevor Project’s suicide hotline and text line on their students’ identification cards.
CAYEN is a youth-led statewide network, comprised of TAY Action Teams and CAYEN Board members, that engages, empowers, and represents Transitional Age Youth (TAY), ages 15-26, in mental health advocacy on issues that directly affect TAY. Since 2006, CAYEN has actively worked to empower TAY and drive meaningful change in public policy, particularly in increasing access to vital mental health supports.
This bill improves timely access to crisis support and culturally responsive services for youth facing mental health challenges by ensuring a suicide hotline and text line is readily available to them. This will help reduce information barriers and empower them to take control of their health and wellness. For these reasons, CAYEN supports AB 727 (González) and asks you to vote “Aye.” If you have any questions, or if CAYEN can provide assistance on this bill or any other behavioral health legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me at dthirakul@mhac.org or our Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari, at kvicari@mhaofca.org.
Sincerely,
Danny Thirakul
California Youth Empowerment Network
Public Policy Coordinator