AB1037 - Public health: substance use disorder.

Assembly Bill No. 1037 CHAPTER 569 An act to amend Section 1714.22 of the Civil Code, and to amend Sections 1797.197, 11372.7, 11834.01, 11834.026, 11834.26, 11999, and 11999.1 of, to amend the heading of Division 10.5 (commencing with Section 11750) of, to repeal Section 11999.2 of, and to repeal and add the heading of Division 10.7 (commencing with Section 11999) of, the Health and Safety Code, relating to public health. [ Approved by Governor October 10, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State October 10, 2025. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1037, Elhawary. Public health: substance use disorder. (1) Under existing law, a licensed health care provider who is authorized by law to prescribe an opioid antagonist may issue standing orders for the distribution of an opioid antagonist to a person at risk of an opioid-related overdose or to a family member, friend, or other person in a position to assist a person at risk of an opioid-related overdose. Existing law exempts a health care provider who acts with reasonable care in issuing a prescription or order for an opioid antagonist from professional review, civil action, or criminal prosecution, under certain circumstances. Existing law requires that a person who receives an opioid antagonist pursuant to a standing order or otherwise possesses an opioid antagonist receive training, as specified. Existing law provides that a person who is trained in the use of an opioid antagonist and acts with reasonable care and in good faith is not subject to professional review, liable in a civil action, or subject to criminal prosecution. This bill would expand the above-described authorizations to those who are at risk of or any person who may be in a position to assist a person experiencing any overdose and would strike the requirement that those who receive and possess opioid antagonists receive training. The bill would authorize a person in a position to assist a person at risk of an overdose to possess an opioid antagonist and subsequently dispense or distribute an opioid antagonist to a person at risk of an overdose or another person in a position to assist a person at risk of an overdose. The bill would instead exempt a person who administers an opioid antagonist in good faith, whether or not they were trained, from liability for civil damages, as specified, and would instead exempt a health care provider who acts with reasonable care from liability in a civil action for any injuries or damages relating to or resulting from the acts or omissions of any person who administers the opioid antagonist in good faith, as specified. (2) Existing law imposes a drug program fee for each separate controlled substance offense, as specified, to be deposited by the county treasurer in a drug program fund. Existing law requires that a portion of the fund be allocated to primary prevention programs in the community. This bill would state that primary prevention programs may include those activities aligned with evidence-based best practices, as specified. (3) Existing law requires the State Department of Health Care Services to license and regulate facilities that provide residential nonmedical services to adults who are recovering from problems related to alcohol, drug, or alcohol and drug misuse or abuse, and who need alcohol, drug, or alcohol and drug recovery treatment or detoxification services. Existing law authorizes a licensed alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility to permit incidental medical services, as defined, to be provided to a resident at the facility premises by a licensed physician and surgeon or other health care practitioner under specified limited circumstances, including that the resident has signed an admission agreement. Existing law requires a licensee to develop a plan to address when a resident relapses, including when a resident is on the licensed premises after consuming alcohol or using illicit drugs. This bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2027, to offer a combined application for entities seeking licensure as an alcohol or other drug recovery or treatment facility and to provide incidental medical services, as defined. The bill would prohibit the department from requiring an admission agreement to require a person to be abstinent and not intoxicated in order to be admitted to care or continue treatment. The bill would require a licensee to prioritize the individual maintaining some level of connection to treatment, following a relapse. (4) Existing law defines “drug- or alcohol-related program” as any program designed to reduce the unlawful use of, or assist those who engage in the unlawful use of, drugs or alcohol, through various means, such as intervention, treatment, and enforcement, among others. Existing law prohibits the encumbrance of state funds for a drug- or alcohol-related program unless it contains a component that explains that there is no unlawful use of drugs or alcohol and requires all aspects of a drug- or alcohol-related program receiving state funds to be consistent with the “no lawful use” message. This bill would redefine that term to mean any program designed to assist persons with substance use disorders and would strike enforcement from the specified means. The bill would repeal the above-described provisions related to the “no lawful use” message. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 1714.22 of the Civil Code is amended to read: 1714.22. (a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) “Opioid antagonist” means naloxone hydrochloride or any other opioid antagonist that is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of an opioid overdose. (2) “Opioid overdose prevention and treatment training program” means any program operated by a local health jurisdiction or that is registered by a local health jurisdiction to train individuals to prevent, recognize, and respond to an opiate overdose, and that provides, at a minimum, training in all of the following: (A) The causes of an opiate overdose. (B) Basic life support. (C) How to contact appropriate emergency medical services. (D) How to administer an opioid antagonist. (b) A licensed health care provider who is authorized by law to prescribe an opioid antagonist may, if acting with reasonable care, prescribe and subsequently dispense or distribute an opioid antagonist to a person at risk of an overdose or to a family member, friend, or other person in a position to assist a person at risk of an overdose. (c) (1) A licensed health care provider who is authorized by law to prescribe an opioid antagonist may issue standing orders for the distribution of an opioid antagonist to a person at risk of an overdose or to a family member, friend, or other person in a position to assist a person at risk of an overdose. (2) A licensed health care provider who is authorized by law to prescribe an opioid antagonist may issue standing orders for the administration of an opioid antagonist to a person at risk of an overdose by a family member, friend, or other person in a position to assist a person experiencing or reasonably suspected of experiencing an overdose. (3) A person who is at risk of an overdose or any person in a position to assist a person at risk of an overdose may possess an opioid antagonist and subsequently dispense or distribute an opioid antagonist to a person at risk of an overdose or to any other person in a position to assist a person at risk of an overdose. (d) A licensed health care provider who acts with reasonable care shall not be subject to professional review or subject to criminal prosecution for issuing a prescription or order or for possessing, administering, or distributing an opioid antagonist pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c), or for liability in a civil action for any injuries or damages relating to or resulting from the acts or omissions of any person who administers the opioid antagonist in good faith and not for compensation pursuant to this section. (e) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, a person who possesses or distributes an opioid antagonist for the purposes specified in subdivision (b) or (c) shall not be subject to professional review or be subject to criminal prosecution for their possession or distribution. (2) Consistent with Section 1799.102 of the Health and Safety Code, any person who administers an opioid antagonist, in good faith and not for compensation, to a person who is experiencing or is suspected of experiencing an overdose is not liable for civil damages resulting from any act or omission relating to such administration, other than an act or omission constituting gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct. SEC. 2. Section 1797.197 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read: 1797.197. (a) The authority shall establish training and standards for all prehospital emergency medical care personnel, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1797.189, regarding the characteristics and method of assessment and treatment of anaphylactic reactions and the use of epinephrine. The authority shall promulgate regulations regarding these matters for use by all prehospital emergency medical care personnel. (b) (1) The authority shall develop and, after approval by the commission pursuant to Section 1799.50, adopt training and standards for all prehospital emergency medical care personnel, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1797.189, regarding the use and administration of naloxone hydrochloride and other opioid antagonists. The authority shall promulgate regulations regarding these matters for use by all prehospital emergency medical care personnel. The authority may adopt existing training and standards for prehospital emergency medical care personnel regarding the statewide use and administration of naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid antagonist to satisfy the requirements of this section. (2) The medical director of a local EMS agency may, pursuant to Section 1797.221, approve or conduct a trial study of the use and administration of naloxone hydrochloride or other opioid antagonists by any level of prehospital emergency medical care personnel. Training received by prehospital emergency medical care personnel specific to the use and administration of naloxone hydrochloride or another opioid antagonist during this trial study may be used towards satisfying the training requirements established pursuant to paragraph (1) regarding the use and administration of naloxone hydrochloride and other opioid antagonists by prehospital emergency medical care personnel. SEC. 3. Section 11372.7 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read: 11372.7. (a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b) or (e), each person who is convicted of a violation of this chapter shall pay a drug program fee in an amount not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for each separate offense. The court shall increase the total fine, if necessary, to include this increment, which shall be in addition to any other penalty prescribed by law. (b) The court shall determine whether or not the person who is convicted of a violation of this chapter has the ability to pay a drug program fee. If the court determines that the person has the ability to pay, the court may set the amount to be paid and order the person to pay that sum to the county in a manner that the court believes is reasonable and compatible with the person’s financial ability. In its determination of whether a person has the ability to pay, the court shall take into account the amount of any fine imposed upon that person and any amount that person has been ordered to pay in restitution. If the court determines that the person does not have the ability to pay a drug program fee, the person shall not be required to pay a drug program fee. (c) The county treasurer shall maintain a drug program fund. For every drug program fee assessed and collected pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b), an amount equal to this assessment shall be deposited into the fund for every conviction pursuant to this chapter, in addition to fines, forfeitures, and other moneys that are transmitted by the courts to the county treasurer pursuant to Sections 11372.5 and 11502. These deposits shall be made prior to any transfer pursuant to Section 11502. Amounts deposited in the drug program fund shall be allocated by the administrator of the county’s drug program to drug abuse programs in the schools and the community, subject to the approval of the board of supervisors, as follows: (1) The moneys in the fund shall be allocated through the planning process established pursuant to Sections 11983, 11983.1, 11983.2, and 11983.3. (2) A minimum of 33 percent of the fund shall be allocated to primary prevention programs in the schools and the community. Primary prevention programs developed and implemented under this article shall emphasize cooperation in planning and program implementation among schools and community drug abuse agencies, and shall demonstrate coordination through an interagency agreement among county offices of education, school districts, and the county drug program administrator. These primary prevention programs may include: (A) School- and classroom-oriented programs, including, but not limited to, programs designed to encourage sound decisionmaking, an awareness of values, an awareness of drugs and their effects, enhanced self-esteem, social and practical skills that will assist students toward maturity, enhanced or improved school climate and relationships among all school personnel and students, and furtherance of cooperative efforts of school- and community-based personnel. (B) School- or community-based nonclassroom alternative programs, or both, including, but not limited to, positive peer group programs, programs involving youth and adults in constructive activities designed as alternatives to drug use, and programs for special target groups, such as women, ethnic minorities, and other high-risk, high-need populations. (C) Family-oriented programs, including, but not limited to, programs aimed at improving family relationships and involving parents constructively in the education and nurturing of their children, as well as in specific activities aimed at preventing substance use disorders. (D) Primary prevention activities aligned with evidence-based best practices or identified in the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant, authorized by Section 1921 of Subparts II and III of Part B of Title XIX of the Public Health Service Act. (d) Moneys deposited into a county drug program fund pursuant to this section shall supplement, and shall not supplant, any local funds made available to support the county’s drug abuse prevention [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]