California Legislature passes involuntary outpatient commitment bill (tags)
With bipartisan super-majority votes that stunned and dismayed mental health clients and advocates, the California Senate and Assembly passed involuntary outpatient commitment (IOC) bill AB 2357, sending the bill to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign or veto. The bill would extend Laura's Law, California's existing outpatient commitment law, by five years.
Final vote on involuntary outpatient commitment bill AB 2357 held over until August 14 (tags)
Mental health clients mobilize last-minute letter-writing campaign to stop bill in Senate
Legislative recess stalls final vote on outpatient commitment bill AB 2357 until August (tags)
The California Senate adjourned Friday without having voted on involuntary outpatient commitment extension bill AB 2357, affording the bill's opponents an additional month to defeat the legislation.
Final vote expected today on involuntary outpatient commitment bill AB 2357 (tags)
Invoking an obscure senate rule Monday, California Senate Appropriations Chair Kevin Murray bumped involuntary psychiatric treatment bill AB 2357 to the Senate Floor, scuttling public input and fast-tracking the bill to its final vote today. Ardently opposed by a coalition of consumers, survivors, ex-patients and allies, the bill seeks to extend "Laura's Law", the state's soon-to-sunset outpatient commitment law.
Outpatient commitment extension bill AB 2357 to be heard in Senate Appropriations June 26 (tags)
Join the CNMHC and other advocates at the State Capitol on June 26th, as we speak out in opposition to involuntary outpatient commitment extension bill AB 2357.
Senate Health Committee narrowly passes forced treatment extension bill AB 2357 (tags)
In a contentious hearing Wednesday, a bill that would extend the sunset date of involuntary psychiatric outpatient commitment law AB 1421 ("Laura's Law"), was passed by the State Senate Health Committee with a vote of 5-3. Strongly opposed by mental health clients, survivors and allies, the bill, AB 2357, will be heard next in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
California Clients Fight Forced Mental Health Treatment (tags)
In a move that has angered mental health clients and spurred mounting criticism of voter betrayal, state officials announced Tuesday that counties will likely be allowed to use taxpayer money from recently passed ballot measure Proposition 63 to fund involuntary treatment, including court-ordered outpatient commitment. In response, clients have launched a letter-writing campaign to demand the state reverse its course.