Gabriel's Law (Assembly Bill 2304) was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Posted on 09/20/2026

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 2304 today, known as Gabriel's Law.

"Today is an emotional and historic victory for Gabriel and every child whose voice has been silenced," said Gabriel's cousin, Emily Carranza.

The Sylmar resident started the organization, "Gabriel's Justice," with others who fought hard and worked with legislators to get it passed.

Carranza thanked prosecutor Jonathon Hatami and Palmdale Assemblyman Tom Lakey, who introduced the legislation.

In May 2013, 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez passed away after being continuously tortured and beaten by his mother Pearl Fernandez and her boyfriend Isauro Aguirre.

Gabriel Fernandez, "Always loved, forever missed, and never forgotten"

The system failed the young boy, who was shoved into a cupboard and locked inside, starved, forced to eat cat litter, and showed up to school with bruises and black eyes. While county social workers made home visits, they failed to take action even after the child's school teacher informed them of the abuse. Gabriel was beaten to death.

What happened to Gabriel exposed the failure of the LA County Department of Children and Family Services.

This long-fought legislation, which is now law, will shift the child welfare system and force accountability by instituting critical reforms.

It legally binds social workers to take immediate, reasonable steps to secure emergency medical, surgical, or remedial care for any child under their custody who appears to need urgent treatment. It clarifies existing statutes to ensure that county child welfare workers face severe consequences under public record laws if they knowingly alter, manipulate, or falsify official case records.

The new law now requires;

Mandatory Emergency Care: It legally binds social workers to take immediate, reasonable steps to secure emergency medical, surgical, or remedial care for any child under their custody who appears to need urgent treatment.

Strict Record Accountability: It clarifies existing statutes to ensure that county child welfare workers face severe consequences under public record laws if they knowingly alter, manipulate, or falsify official case records.

"Today is Gabriel's victory; his light will continue to shine," said Carranza.

Story Credit: The San Fernando Valley Sun - https://sanfernandosun.com/

More information -

Gabriel Fernandez Foundation -

https://thegabrielfernandezfoundation.org/about

CA Assembly Bill 2304 "Gabriel's Law -

https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260ab2304