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Committee advances bill to require fentanyl testing when courts order parental drug tests in dependency cases
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Summary
SB 1234 (Accountability Before Custody Act) was passed out of the Senate Human Services Committee after testimony from family members and law enforcement that including fentanyl in court-ordered drug panels can better inform reunification decisions.
Senator Alvarado Gill presented SB 1234, the Accountability Before Custody (ABC) Act, telling the committee the measure would ensure courts include fentanyl when they already order drug testing in dependency proceedings. The author framed the change as narrow and targeted: "This bill does not expand when courts can order drug testing. It does not create new requirements for families. It simply ensures that when testing has already been ordered, fentanyl is included in that panel," she said.
Corinne Frostick, who described the loss of her 15-month-old granddaughter to fentanyl exposure, urged passage: "SB 1234 ensures that fentanyl is included in drug testing when it is already required. Fentanyl is different. It is fast. It is deadly." Nevada County Captain Sean Scales and other law enforcement witnesses described local fentanyl fatalities and near-fatal child exposures and said including fentanyl in panels would increase child safety.
Committee members expressed support, and Senator Nilo moved the bill to the floor. A roll call recorded Becker, Nilo, Laird and Weber Pearson voting aye and the motion carried 4-0; the bill was reported out of committee.
Supporters emphasized the bill dds fentanyl to existing testing panels already used by courts in dependency cases. No opposition witnesses were recorded in the hearing. SB 1234 now moves to the next committee/floor steps.
