A proposed bill aimed at strengthening protections for abused children is heading to the governor’s desk in California. Assembly Bill 2304, also known as Gabriel’s Law, is named after the tragic case of Gabriel Fernandez, whose story gained widespread attention after a Netflix documentary series.

“It’s been needed for a long time, and we’ve been battling ever since the the tragedy of Gabriel Fernandez, to try to get some remedy to prevent this very tragic circumstance, and I will tell you, unfortunately, just in the Antelope Valley area that I represent, there has been 11 additional deaths where kids have suffered death at the hands of their own caregivers, and we’re trying to stop it. We’re trying to at least slow it down. We’re trying to do anything we can to prevent this kind of assault against children,” Assemblymember Tom Lackey said.

Gabriel, an eight-year-old boy, died over a decade ago, and his mother is currently serving life without parole, while her boyfriend is on death row.

According to CBS News, child welfare workers had multiple contacts with the family leading up to Gabriel’s death, and a teacher had reported the family to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family services.

Lackey, who was on the Palmdale City Council at the time of Gabriel’s death, shared that he knew many specifics of the case. “I knew way too many of the specifics so hurtful and such an affront, and what really shocked me was that as we continue to try to address this, children kept dying and dying and dying in my district,” said Lackey.

Gabriel’s Law would require social workers to take reasonable steps to secure emergency care for children in need. The bill also clarifies that county child welfare social workers are subject to existing laws regarding the falsification or alteration of records.

Legal analyst Dan Eaton emphasized the importance of the bill for children who often exist under the radar. “It deals with a population of children that often exist under the radar, which is so tragic,” Eaton said. He noted that the measure passed unanimously in both houses of the California legislature, signaling strong bipartisan support. “It’s designed to protect some of the state’s most vulnerable children,” he added.

The governor now has 30 days to either sign the bill into law or veto it.