Public health: substance use disorder.

Assembly Member Elhawary's substance use disorder legislation expands access to opioid overdose reversal medications while reforming California's approach to addiction treatment and recovery services. The bill removes training requirements for obtaining naloxone and other opioid antagonists, allowing any person at risk of overdose or in a position to assist during an overdose to possess and distribute these medications. It also provides liability protections for individuals who administer opioid antagonists in good faith, regardless of training status.

The legislation requires licensed treatment facilities to maintain naloxone supplies and have trained staff available to administer it. Facilities must develop comprehensive relapse management plans that prioritize keeping individuals connected to treatment rather than requiring immediate discharge. The bill prohibits facilities from denying admission based solely on current substance use or requiring abstinence as a condition of receiving care.

To streamline oversight, the Department of Health Care Services must create a combined application process by 2027 for facilities seeking both treatment program licensure and certification to provide incidental medical services. The department will publish processing timelines and track application progress through key milestones. The bill also revises how drug program fees fund prevention efforts, specifying that programs may incorporate evidence-based practices aligned with federal substance use treatment guidelines.