HB 617

This bill enacts "Tucker's Law, "" which provides that t he month of October is designated as ""Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month"" in all p ublic schools to educate students about the dangers posed by the drug fentanyl and the risks of fentanyl poisoning, including overdose. During Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month, each LEA and public charter school must provide age-appropriate, research-ba sed instruction related to fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness to students in grades 6-12. This bill requires such instruction to include (i) s uicide prevention; ( ii ) p revention of the abuse of and addiction to fentanyl; ( iii ) a warenes s of local school and community resources and any processes involved in accessing those resources; and ( iv ) h ealth education that includes information about substance use and abuse, including youth substance use and abuse. Such instruction may be provided by an entity or an employee or agent of an entity that is a public or private institution of higher education, a library, a community service organization, a religious organization, a local public health agency, or a n organization employing mental health professionals."