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.
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.
Senators' votes on earlier forced treatment bills spell trouble for AB 2357 opponents (tags)
As the final vote nears for involuntary outpatient commitment bill AB 2357 on the floor of the California Senate, state senators' votes on earlier forced treatment bills spell trouble for AB 2357 opponents. But some advocates remain hopeful that senators will be persuaded to vote "no" at the last minute, others will continue to vote "no", and the bill's course will be reversed.
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.