Pasadena-Area Senator’s Education Bills Signed Into Law by Governor Newsom

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a package of education bills introduced by State Senator Anthony Portantino, who represents the Pasadena area. The legislation addresses critical issues facing California schools, including the opioid epidemic, language barriers in special education, and truancy policies.

“SB 997 implements preventative measures to help avoid opioid related deaths in high schools,” stated Senator Portantino. “Allowing fentanyl test strips and Narcan nasal products — both of which are easy to administer — will save lives and make our children safer.”

Senate Bill 997 permits middle and high school students to carry federally approved opioid antagonists and test strips. The measure responds to alarming statistics from the California Department of Public Health, which reported over 7,000 opioid-related deaths in 2022. Fentanyl poisoning accounted for 88% of these fatalities, including 640 out of 807 deaths by opioid overdose among young people.

The bill originated from Senator Portantino’s summer internship program. High school senior Libby Paquette, who proposed the idea, explained, “The logic behind providing test strips is to present the opportunity to avoid drugs contaminated with Fentanyl entirely. I believe test strips will help save lives when Narcan is not available.”

Senate Bill 445 addresses language barriers in Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). It requires the statewide IEP template to be translated into California’s top 10 most commonly spoken languages by Jan. 1, 2027. Local Education Agencies must provide translated copies of IEPs when requested, addressing current issues of untimely or inaccurate translations.

Gregory Cramer, Senior Legislative Advocate with Disability Rights California, stated, “SB 445 provides tools to expedite IEP translation and create full parent participation in the special education process statewide, regardless of language or background. This is vital to achieve the free and appropriate public education that all students deserve.”

Senate Bill 691, co-sponsored by the California State PTA and GENup, reforms truancy notifications by removing threatening language and instead providing information on mental health and supportive services. This approach aligns with a California study showing that rewriting traditional truancy notifications increased effectiveness by 40 percent.

Kathleen Fay, Director of Legislation with California State PTA, commented, “Simply replacing intimidating language with messages that are welcoming and supportive, encourages families to work with schools to resolve attendance issues. That is our goal.”

The legislation package also includes Senate Bill 98, which addresses the transition from attendance-based to enrollment-based education funding.

Joanna French, Senior Director of Research and Policy Strategies for Innovate Public Schools, praised the new IEP translation law: “Equitable and timely access to translated documents for families during the IEP process is essential to student success and meaningful family engagement.”