Bill > SB800

This bill requires the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to incorporate suicide prevention design considerations into its guidance documents for bridges and overpasses by July 1, 2028. The bill mandates that Caltrans work in consultation with the State Department of Public Health and collaborate with local governments to evaluate and potentially adopt guidance for suicide deterrence measures. These measures may include designing, placing, or modifying barriers, fencing, and other infrastructure elements on state highway bridges and overpasses to help prevent suicide attempts. Importantly, the bill explicitly states that these requirements do not create a mandatory legal duty for the department, which means Caltrans has discretion in how it implements these suicide prevention design considerations. This legislation builds upon existing requirements for state freeway overpass safety and aims to proactively address mental health and public safety concerns by incorporating suicide prevention strategies into infrastructure design and planning.

Budget and Finance, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB800