As excerpted from Capitol Weekly.
Passed nearly two decades ago, Laura’s Law (Assisted Outpatient Treatment, or AOT) has been successfully implemented in many California counties — reducing hospitalizations, incarceration, homelessness and saving public funds. But it was not made permanent until Eggman’s legislation, nor did it require counties to hold public hearings and explain why they did not have such programs, as AB 1976 did. It was passed unanimously last year, and has since been adopted in 30 of California’s 58 counties, including all of the larger ones.
Eggman introduced six mental-health reform measures in the Legislature this year. Two of the most significant bills were unanimously approved and sent to the governor before the Legislature adjourned on Sept. 10, and one was extended into next year.