 Howard's staff work include SB 577 (2005) (reforming government finance regulation); SB 796 (2005) (requiring Internet access to government information); and SB 954 (reforming information technology procurement).In January 2007, Howard became senior counsel for the Children's Advocacy Institute based in the University of San Diego School of Law.In 2007 Howard oversaw the Children's Advocacy Institute's and Morrison & Foerster's precedent-setting federal lawsuit on behalf of foster parent advocacy groups (California State Foster Care Association, California State Care Providers Association, and Legal Advocates for Permanent Parenting).