Bill > HB2956

This bill expands "Laken's Law" (officially called the Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Education Act) to include students in grades 3-12, instead of the previous grades 6-12, in all public schools. The law mandates annual educational programming about fentanyl, heroin, and opioids, with the goal of preventing overdose deaths among teens and young adults. Specifically, students will be required to receive instruction on fentanyl and opioid awareness, prevention, and abuse; learn about life-saving opioid reversal agents approved by the FDA; understand how to prevent substance abuse and addiction; be informed about local and state resources for combating youth substance use; and receive comprehensive health education focused on substance abuse issues. The implementation will be phased in, with the expanded curriculum covering grades 6-12 beginning in the 2024-2025 school year and the additional instruction for grades 3-5 starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill aims to provide early and comprehensive education to help students understand the risks and consequences of opioid use.