 Among these laws is SB 39 (2007)  which allows the press and public greater access to county documents when children under the supervision of CPS die.This law has prompted broad press coverage of the operational shortcomings in county child welfare services, especially in Los Angeles and Sacramento Counties.Howard was part of the legal team that persuaded a judge to strike down regulations promulgated by the State Department of Social Services pursuant to SB 39 that had previously blocked information from being released to the press and public when local child welfare agencies had failed to act to prevent a child from being fatally abused or neglected.