Position Category: Assembly Bill

AB 678 (LEE) LGBTQ+ Safe and Inclusive Housing – Support

April 17, 2025

The Honorable Matt Haney
Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee
1020 N Street, Room 156
Sacramento, CA 95814

Re: LIVE Support for Assembly Bill 678 (Lee)

Dear Chair Haney, 

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, Visibility, and Empowerment (LIVE) is pleased to support AB 678 (Lee), legislation that would require the California Interagency Council on Homelessness to coordinate with LGBTQ+ housing providers, nonprofits, advocates, and researchers to recommend policies and best practices for improving services for LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness.

LIVE is a program of changemakers that celebrates LGBTQ+ diversity and creates a more inclusive world where LGBTQ+ community members can live authentically. LIVE creates positive change by uplifting and empowering individuals to raise their voices in policymaking, stigma reduction and unifying community. LIVE is committed to advocating for the health, wellness, and rights of the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring that all individuals can thrive without facing discrimination or barriers to their livelihood.   

Affordability, discrimination, race, and ethnicity are some of the primary challenges the LGBTQ+ community faces attempting to secure stable and safe housing. LGBTQ+ individuals are twice as likely as non-LGBTQ people to be unhoused.[1] To better support the LGBTQ+ community and address these challenges, California must collaborate with and center the lived experience of the community in the delivery of education, training, resources, and collect data to prevent discrimination, harassment, and violence.

This bill will include LGBTQ+ serving organizations, individuals, and advocates in the creation of best practices and culturally competent services. It is for these reasons that LIVE supports AB 678 (Lee) and asks for your “Aye” vote. If you have any questions, or if LIVE can provide assistance on this bill or any other legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me at agaribaymena@mhac.org or our Public Policy Coordinator, Danny Thirakul, at dthirakul@mhac.org.

In Community,  

Anthony Garibay-Mena 
LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, Visibility, and Empowerment 
Program Manager 

[1] thisisloyal.com, L. |. (2024, October 31). Housing is an LGBTQ issue. Williams Institute.

AB 554 (GONZALEZ) HIV Prevention – Support

April 22, 2025

The Honorable Mia Bonta
Chair, Assembly health Committee
1020 N Street, Room 390
Sacramento, CA 95814

Re: LIVE Support for Assembly Bill 554 (González)

Dear Chair Bonta, 

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, Visibility, and Empowerment (LIVE) is pleased to support AB 554 (González), legislation that would prohibit health plans from requiring prior authorization, step therapy, or any other protocol designed to delay treatment for HIV/AIDS prevention drugs, devices, and products.

LIVE is a program of changemakers that celebrates LGBTQ+ diversity and creates a more inclusive world where LGBTQ+ community members can live authentically. LIVE creates positive change by uplifting and empowering individuals to bolster their voices in policy, stigma reduction and unifying community. LIVE is committed to advocating for the health, wellness, and rights of the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring that all individuals can thrive without facing discrimination or barriers to their livelihood.   

The California Department of Public Health recorded in their 2022 HIV Surveillance Report that 142,772 people were living with HIV.[1] Men who have sex with men (MSM) were identified as a category of people at high risk of transmission of HIV. Access to HIV prevention drugs, devices, and other products is essential to reducing transmission and improving public health and safety for all. This bill ensures health plans cannot delay access to these vital prevention services and supports.

By reducing barriers to timely access, people living with HIV will be able to receive care in a timely manner. It is for these reasons that LIVE supports AB 554 (González) and asks for your “Aye” vote. If you have any questions, or if LIVE can provide assistance on this bill or any other legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me at agaribaymena@mhac.org or our Public Policy Coordinator, Danny Thirakul, at dthirakul@mhac.org.  

In Community,  

Anthony Garibay-Mena 
LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, Visibility, and Empowerment 
Program Manager 

[1] California HIV Surveillance Report – 2022. California Department of Public Health . (n.d.).

AB 602 (HANEY) Postsecondary Education Substance Use Harm Reduction Policy – Support

April 23rd, 2025

The Honorable Mike Fong
Assembly Higher Education Committee
1020 N Street, Room 173
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: CAYEN Support for Assembly Bill 602 (Haney)

Dear Chair Fong,   

The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is pleased to support AB 602 (Haney), legislation that would establish a harm reduction approach to supporting students in post-secondary education institutions who use substances.

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.   

Disciplinary procedures disproportionately impact students of color when substance use among White students are just as high if not higher than their African American and Hispanic counterparts.[1] This unjust application can be remedied by focusing on how to support every student instead of how to punish them. This bill ensures that students won’t be disciplined for seeking medical attention if they are experiencing a drug overdose or seeking medical assistance for someone else experiencing a drug-related overdose. In addition, this bill would require schools to assign an activity to the student, such as participating in meetings with a school counselor or attending a drug education group to ensure proper support for the student without additional sanctions.  

This bill empowers students to freely seek help during a substance use emergency without fear of punishment, while ensuring school can connect them to supportive services. For these reasons, CAYEN supports AB 602 (Haney) and asks for your “Aye” vote. 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 

[1] McCabe, S. E., Morales, M., Cranford, J. A., Delva, J., McPherson, M. D., & Boyd, C. J. (2007). Race/ethnicity and gender differences in drug use and abuse among college students. Journal of ethnicity in substance abuse, 6(2), 75–95.

AB 932 (IRWIN) Sex and Gender Inclusion in Community Youth Athletics Programs – Support

April 22nd, 2025

The Honorable Ash Kalra
Assembly Judiciary Committee
1020 N Street, Room 104
Sacramento, CA 95814

Re: LIVE Support for Assembly Bill 932 (Irwin)

Dear Chair Kalra, 

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, Visibility, and Empowerment (LIVE) is pleased to support AB 932 (Irwin), legislation that would prohibit schools, cities, and other municipalities from discriminating against a person based on sex or gender in their access to parks, schools, and recreation facilities and resources.

LIVE is a program of changemakers that celebrates LGBTQ+ diversity and creates a more inclusive world where LGBTQ+ community members can live authentically. LIVE creates positive change by uplifting and empowering individuals to bolster their voices in policy, stigma reduction and unifying community. LIVE is committed to advocating for the health, wellness, and rights of the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring that all individuals can thrive without facing discrimination or barriers to their livelihood.

The transgender community faces discrimination in a variety of ways such as but not limited to access to healthcare, housing, and other essential services. They can also face daily scrutiny and discrimination when attempting to use public facilities such as athletic courts, gymnasiums, recreational rooms, and most commonly restrooms. This bill prohibits municipalities from discriminating against people based on sex or gender, ensuring equal access to facilities and resources.  

People have a right to recreation and education in which sex and gender are not barriers to access. It is for these reasons that LIVE supports AB 932 (Irwin) and asks for your “Aye” vote. If you have any questions, or if LIVE can provide assistance on this bill or any other legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me at agaribaymena@mhac.org or our Public Policy Coordinator, Danny Thirakul, at dthirakul@mhac.org.  

In Community,  

Anthony Garibay-Mena 
LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, Visibility, and Empowerment 
Program Manager 

AB 1032 (HARABEDIAN) Coverage for Behavioral Health Visits

April 22nd, 2025

The Honorable Mia Bonta
Assembly Health Committee
1020 N Street, Room 390
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: MHAC Support for Assembly 1032 (Harabedian)

Dear Chair Bonta,   

Mental Health America of California (MHAC) is pleased to support AB 1032 (Harabedian), legislation that will allow health plan enrollees to be reimbursed for up to 12 visits with a behavioral health provider if they reside in a county where a state of emergency has been declared due to wildfires.

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.   

During moments of crisis, especially ones brought about from natural disasters such as wildfires, access to the proper support and services can be extremely difficult. The recent Los Angeles fires have displaced hundreds of thousands of people without proper access to critical mental health and substance use supports. The American Addiction Centers notes that natural disasters often lead to increased substance use.[1] As displaced individuals attempt to access mental health and substance use supports and services, cost and insurance coverage should not prevent them from accessing care.

This bill ensures that individuals who experience a crisis due to a natural disaster, specifically wildfires, can receive critical care without the cost becoming a barrier to access. It is for these reasons MHAC supports AB 1032 (Harabedian) 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] Stacy Mosel, L. M. S. W. (2025, April 4). The impact of natural disaster on Substance Use Disorders: AAC. American Addiction Centers.

AB 602 (HANEY) Postsecondary Education Substance Use Harm Reduction Policy – Support

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 

AB 1034 (ÁVILA FARÍAS) Including Youth Mental Health in Teacher Preparation Programs – Support

April 23rd, 2025

The Honorable Al Muratsuchi
Assembly Education Committee
1020 N Street, Room 159
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: CAYEN Support for AB 1034 (Ávila Farías)

Dear Chair Muratsuchi,   

The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is pleased to support AB 1034 (Ávila Farías), legislation that would include a basic understanding of youth mental health in a professional preparation program required for teacher credentialing.

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. Creating spaces that nurture and support youth so they can access critical mental health and substance use services is vital to the destigmatization revolving around mental health.

The Center for Disease Control released their Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2013–2023 and found that there was an increase in youth experiencing violence, poor mental health, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.[1] Since TAY spend a significant portion of their lives at school, a teacher is often the first-person youth seek support from if experiencing mental health challenges. Teachers are also most likely to identify potential challenges youth are experiencing given their daily interactions with them.

The ability to identify youth at risk and provide support before their mental health or substance use challenges exacerbates will help bridge gaps in access and reduce mental health disparities. This bill ensures teachers will have basic knowledge of youth mental health and will better prepare them to support youth health and wellness. It is for these reasons, CAYEN supports AB 1034 (Avila Farías) and asks for your “Aye” vote. 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 

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2013–2023. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2024.

AB 908 (SOLACHE) LGBTQ+ Inclusion in LCAP – Support

March 24th, 2025

The Honorable Al Muratsuchi
Chair, Assembly Education Committee  
1020 N Street, Room 159 
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: Support for Assembly Bill 908 (Solache)

Dear Chair, 

The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is pleased to support Assembly Bill 908 (Solache), a bill that would ensure school districts prioritize the education and well-being of LGBTQ+ pupils by requiring a state priority in their local control and accountability plans (LCAP) that describes the school district’s implementation of supportive policies and initiatives for LGBTQ+ pupils. 

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.  

Schools are essential public institutions that support youth in their social and emotional learning. However, disparities in school connectedness pose a significant risk factor for developing mental health and substance use challenges.[1] A recent study by UCLA’s Williams Institute also found that 10% of public middle and high school students identify as LGBTQ+ in California. These students reported lower levels of school connectedness compared to their non-LGBTQ+ peers.[2] By requiring school districts to describe their implementation of support services for LGBTQ+ youth in their local control and accountability plans, schools can easily identify where the gaps in support are and efficiently address the lack of support or services provided to LGBTQ+ youth.

By requiring school districts to document these efforts, AB 908 will help ensure LGBTQ+ students receive the support they need and prevent behavioral health challenges from developing. For these reasons, we support AB 908 (Solache). 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

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Substance use among youth. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

[2] Choi, S.K. Baams, L., & Wilson, B.D.M.  (2017). LGBTQ Youth in California’s Public Schools: Differences across the State. Los Angeles: The Williams Institute  

AB 727 (GONZÁLEZ) Pupil Identification Cards – Support

March 24th, 2025 

The Honorable Al Muratsuchi 
Chair, Assembly Education Committee    
1020 N Street, Room 159   
Sacramento, CA 95814  

Re: LIVE Support for AB 727 (González)

Dear Chair,

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, Visibility, and Empowerment (LIVE) 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. This bill also provides statewide resources if youth and their families have faced school-based discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying.

LIVE is a program of changemakers that celebrates LGBTQ+ diversity and creates a more inclusive world where LGBTQ+ community members can live authentically. LIVE creates positive change by uplifting and empowering individuals to bolster their voices in policy, stigma reduction and unifying community. LIVE is committed to advocating for the health, wellness, and rights of the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring that all individuals can thrive without facing discrimination or barriers to their livelihood. 

Suicide among transgender youth increased by 72% between 2018 and 2022, according to a Trevor Project report. This alarming rise is linked to the enactment of anti-transgender laws in 19 states, which have restricted access to gender-affirming medical care, bathroom use, and participation in school activities.[1] As trans lives continue to be lost and at risk, California must step up to provide access to immediate support to trans youth.

AB 727 provides readily accessible suicide prevention support and holds California accountable for providing resources to LGBTQ+ youth and families facing discrimination. It is for these reasons that LIVE supports AB 727 (González) and asks for your “Aye” vote. If you have any questions, or if LIVE can provide assistance on this bill or any other legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me at agaribaymena@mhac.org or our Public Policy Coordinator, Danny Thirakul, at dthirakul@mhac.org.

In Community,

Anthony Garibay-Mena
LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, Visibility, and Empowerment
Project Manager

[1] News, T. (2025, February 11). Anti-transgender laws cause up to 72% increase in suicide attempts among transgender and nonbinary youth, study shows. The Trevor Project.  

AB 727 (GONZÁLEZ) Pupil Identification Cards – Support

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