LA Board Wants To Give Health Officials More Power To Forcibly Treat Mentally Ill Homeless People.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed a motion urging state lawmakers to broaden the definition of "gravely disabled." Doing so would allow officials to put mentally ill homeless people on involuntary psychiatric holds if a court determines that because of a person's mental illness, he or she is not able to seek medical care.
Los Angeles Times:
L.A. County Urges State To Expand Definition Of 'Gravely Disabled'
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion Tuesday that asks California lawmakers to change the way the state defines "grave disability" in order to give officials more power to forcibly treat mentally ill homeless people. The motion comes amid concern about the growing number of deaths of the homeless in L.A. County. According to data from the Los Angeles County coroner's office, 831 homeless people died in 2017, compared with 458 in 2013. (Etehad, 1/30)
In other new from across the state —
Sacramento Bee:
California's Treasurer And Attorney General Move On Plan To Create Public Bank For Pot Businesses
Because of the federal prohibition on marijuana, banks generally will not provide accounts to cannabis companies, forcing them to pay taxes and other expenses in cash. The resulting safety problems and accounting complications have been brought to the fore by the Jan. 1 start of legal recreational pot sales in California. (Branan, 1/30)
San Jose Mercury News:
Walgreens Settles Suit Alleging It Sold Expired Baby Food
Walgreens Co. will pay $2.25 million to resolve a consumer protection lawsuit brought by Bay Area prosecutors alleging that the company sold expired baby food, infant formula and over-the-counter drugs. The suit also alleged that Walgreens violated state law by charging more than the lowest posted or advertised price for items. (Green, 1/30)
San Diego Union-Times:
Doug Sooley's 'Long Road Back To Health'
Ramona resident Doug Sooley is on the road to recovery from a New Year’s Day bicycle accident that sent him to intensive care at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido.On that day, Sooley was cruising down a hill at 40 mph with friend Steve Molick on Archie Moore Road near Mt. Woodson. After his bike began wobbling, he lost control of it and flew over the handlebars, breaking his scapula, seven ribs, collarbone, his pelvis in several places and a sacrum. (Gallant, 1/30)