Had Motor Voter created an opt-in choice for DMV customers, instead of an opt-out effort requiring more staff time to respond, pressure on the DMV would have been eased. Senator Patricia Bates has tried to reverse the formula changing the opt-out provision to an opt-in, but her SB 57 is still...

But Sen. Pat Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) argued it’s a flawed way to pay for a worthy cause. “It’s a blank check, it lacks a clear plan and it lacks accountability,” she said. “And most importantly, there is no assurance that this is going to happen in the near term.”

Senator Pat Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) said she had a problem “codifying an agency within an agency,” never authorized by the Legislature. “We are committing tax dollars to a new agency which should have been reviewed by the Legislature first.”

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.

And legislation is pending from State Sen. Pat Bates, R-Laguna Niguel, that would require testing for cannabis in all fatal crashes.