More than a dozen bills have been introduced this session to try to address California’s scandal-plagued addiction treatment and recovery industry. Many see one as essential: AB 704. It would require criminal background checks for employees of licensed addiction treatment centers. It was introduced...

CBS-Sacramento: The bill’s author, Senator Patricia Bates, cited the need for schools to be prepared for worst-case scenarios, saying “SB 541 will save lives and prepare all students, faculty, and parents to know what to do during active threats.”

The first state bill sponsored by Encinitas in more than 20 years is starting to fulfill its original intent: to get unpermitted dwelling units out of the shadows and officially counted in the housing stock.

Offering voter registration opportunities at the California Department of Motor Vehicles is causing people to question the integrity of our election system, according to Sen. Pat Bates (R-Laguna Niguel). Bates authored Senate Bill 57 to make the needed legislative repairs.

California Senate Republicans unanimously elected Sen. Shannon Grove to be their next leader Tuesday. Grove, who represents Bakersfield, will succeed outgoing Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates of Laguna Niguel.