California law gives rehab before discipline
A new California law will offer college students guaranteed rehabilitation options before disciplinary action if they overdose, signaling a public‑health approach to student substance incidents. The policy change at higher ed levels could influence K–12 conversations about discipline, support, and prevention frameworks. (almanacnews.com)
AB 602, called the Campus Overdose Prevention Act, was authored by Assemblymember Matt Haney and was chaptered as Chapter 159 of the 2025 statutes on Oct. 1, 2025. (calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org) Governor Gavin Newsom signed the measure in early October 2025, and the law is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026. (kalw.org) (ssdp.org) The statute directs the governing bodies of California Community Colleges, California State University and the University of California to adopt rules prioritizing campus health and safety and to, on or before July 1, 2026, prohibit discipline for students who receive medical treatment for personal drug or alcohol use if they complete an “appropriate rehabilitation program.” (trackbill.com) (calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org) Under the law, students who receive emergency medical treatment tied to drug or alcohol use must be offered the opportunity to complete rehabilitation or an educational program as an alternative to suspension or expulsion, with the accommodation generally available once per academic term. (trackbill.com) (californiaglobe.com) The bill cleared the Legislature with bipartisan support, including a 31–6 Senate floor vote during the final approval process, and advocates framed it as removing an academic penalty that deterred lifesaving 911 calls. (contracosta.news) (calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org) Student stories helped drive the measure: the bill’s backers cited cases such as a UC Berkeley student placed on disciplinary probation after an overdose, and CalMatters reported that students helped shape parts of the law’s language. (news.yahoo.com) (calmatters.org)
