Advisory: Senator Cortese Joins Parents and Education Leaders in Celebrating Legislative Passage of “Melanie’s Law,” to Stop Youth Fentanyl Overdoses

WHAT: State Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) will join parents, Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, and District Attorney Jeff Rosen to celebrate the legislative passage of SB 10, a bipartisan bill known as “Melanie’s Law.” The bill is named in honor of Melanie Ramos, a 15-year-old who overdosed on fentanyl and died in the bathroom of her high school in Hollywood. SB 10 focuses on preventing youth fentanyl overdoses through prevention, response, training, education, and awareness.

WHO:

  • State Senator Dave Cortese, Senate District 15
  • Elena Perez, Mother of Melanie Ramos
  • Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, County District 2
  • Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Ann Dewan
  • Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen
  • Sherry Daley, Vice President of Governmental Affairs and Corporate Communications, California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals

School leadership from school districts across Santa Clara County will be in attendance.

WHEN: Monday, September 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: 1290 Ridder Park drive, San Jose, 95131

RSVP: We ask that media RSVP to allen.young@sen.ca.gov. The event will be livestreamed on Senator Cortese’s Facebook page: facebook.com/DaveCorteseGov 

BACKGROUND: Fentanyl is responsible for one in five youth deaths in California. In Santa Clara County, fentanyl deaths have spiked by a shocking 863% increase in recent years. SB 10 focuses on stopping youth fentanyl overdoses through prevention, response, and awareness. The bill mandates that every public school in California provide training to school employees on opioid prevention and life-saving response under a formal plan known as a Comprehensive School Safety Plan, or CSSP. Additionally, the bill establishes a state framework to ensure that all students and adults understand the growing risk of youth fentanyl exposure, and have access to the resources needed to prevent and respond to fentanyl poisoning and overdoses.

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