Assembly Committee Approves Bill To Better Track Foster Kids’ Mental Health Services
In other news from Sacramento, legislators freeze several health measures, including ones that would have increased criminal penalties for fentanyl distribution and added a medical marijuana tax on growers.
Bay Area News Group:
Legislation To Improve Tracking Of Mental Health Services For California's Foster Kids Moves Forward
Legislation that would require better transparency and tracking of mental health services for foster kids in every California county unanimously passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Thursday. Senate Bill 1291, by Sen. Jim Beall, D-San Jose, would institute more stringent annual oversight of county Medi-Cal mental health plans' services to foster youth. Services may include screenings, assessments, psychiatric hospitalizations, crisis interventions, case management, and psychotropic drugs, among other treatments. (Seipel, 8/12)
Capital Public Radio:
California Legislature Kills Fentanyl, Whistleblower Protection Bills
California lawmakers churned through more than 500 bills one-by-one in the blink of an eye Thursday. The Senate and Assembly appropriations committees froze some measures while advancing and amending others – all without any debate or explanation. Among the noteworthy measures that died: Stronger criminal penalties for illegal distribution of fentanyl, a powerful opioid that health officials say is responsible for multiple deaths and hospitalizations in recent months. (Bradford, 8/11)