Foster Youth

Brown Ends 2015 With a Whimper: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Landmark bills protecting digital privacy, greening energy use in the state, reining in health insurance abuses and expanding voter registration were among the good proposals signed by Gov. Jerry Brown as the 2015 legislative year drew to a close. Yet, in a year Californians called for bold, progressive action on gas prices, toxics regulation and ratepayer protection against back room dealings with regulated utilities, centrist saddling and tepid reforms dull the shine of those wins for the public. 

Waiting for Governor Jerry Brown to Sign Bills Protecting Californians

The crowded hallways outside of the Legislature's chambers may now be empty but that doesn't mean the fervent lobbying to kill pending legislation is over. 

With more than 600 bills sitting at the governor's desk, we are keeping an eye on bills that protect privacy, healthcare, elections, consumer rights and the environment. Below are some of the bills we are watching:  

Doctors Undermine Major Drug Reform For Foster Kids

When the California Senate passed a package of bills in June to curtail the overprescribing of psychotropic medication to foster youth, lawmakers heralded it as an unprecedented attempt to protect the most vulnerable children in California. But the momentum has slowed. 

How Far Will Legislature Go in Fight Against Prescription Abuse?

An August hearing on how to end prescription drug abuse looms as the Legislature seeks new ways to stop the epidemic. 

State Should Release Psychotropic Medication Prescribing Information in Foster Care, Ban on Big Pharma Payments to Doctors

 Saying the public has a right to know, Consumer Watchdog called upon Senators Mike McGuire and Jim Beall to subpoena Department of Health Care Services data on prescribing patterns of psychotropic medication by doctors to foster youth. Senator McGuire and Senator Beall are holding a joint legislative hearing today on the misuse of psychotropic medication in the foster care system.

CA Medical Board Must Investigate Drug Company Payments to Doctors Prescribing Psychiatric Drugs To Foster Children

Following a report that prescription drug manufacturers have paid or spent more than $14 million to doctors who prescribe drugs to children in California’s foster care system, Consumer Watchdog called on the California Medical Board to expand an investigation into doctors who prescribed dangerous and unapproved psychotropic medications to children.

Capitol Watchdog is owned and operated by nonprofit Consumer Watchdog. For more information about Consumer Watchdog visit http://www.consumerwatchdog.org