The new Bi-Partisan Legislative Substance Abuse Treatment Working Group seeks to significantly expand state oversight, improve patient protections and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent on programs that work.

“We’re talking about close to $2.4 billion in new taxes,” said Republican state Sen. Patricia Bates, who represents both parts of Orange and San Diego counties. “Everything in California is costing more and incomes are less.”

“We’re talking about close to $2.4 billion in new taxes,” said Republican state Sen. Patricia Bates, who represents portions of Orange and San Diego counties. “Everything in California is costing more and incomes are less.”

As legislators in Sacramento and around the country work to prevent school shootings and protect students from active shooters, Southern California school police officers daily worry about that problem — and many other potential threats to student safety.

“It is time to close the loophole, so that candidates and elected officials cannot use money intended for promoting or opposing ballot measures to instead promote themselves and their campaigns,” state Sen. Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) told a Senate committee last month.