California Assembly Bill 2640 ("Zacky's Bill) Signed into Law by Governor Newsom

McLean, VA (September 30, 2022) – Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) is pleased to announce the signing of California Assembly Bill 2640 (Zacky’s Bill”) into law by Governor Gavin Newsom (D) yesterday. This bill requires the State Department of Education to create the California Food Allergy Resource web page, which would provide voluntary guidance to school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools on the importance of food allergy management and treatment. It is also a testament to the tireless advocacy efforts of FARE advocate and Board of National Ambassadors member Priscilla Hernandez and her 10-year-old son Zacky, who suffers from life-threatening food allergies. 

We want to thank Bill Sponsors Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Assemblymember District 38), Megan Dahle (R-Assemblymember District 1) and Bob Archuleta (D-Senate-District 32) for their efforts in developing and pushing through this bill for the approximately 700,000 California children under the age of 18 with life-threatening food allergies. 

FARE would like to acknowledge the unwavering commitment of the Hernandez family in bringing this bill to fruition. Zacky has made it his personal mission to advocate for change for students with food allergies. His passion is personal, as he has several life-threatening food allergies, and once suffered an anaphylactic reaction at school after eating a crouton that contained an allergen. 

“We are so proud of Zacky and his mom, Priscilla, in their efforts to advocate for change in California,” says Sung Poblete, PhD, RN, CEO of FARE. “We need the help of advocates like them to raise awareness of the severity of food allergies and to help promote proper responses to severe allergic reactions in the school systems.” 

To read the bill in its entirety, please visit here.