Legislation to prevent ongoing drinking water contamination like that seen in Flint, Mich., from harming families in disadvantaged communities throughout California was approved Monday on a 4-2 vote by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill will be heard next by the full Senate.

Senate Bill 1318, authored by state Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, would help protect hundreds of thousands of California families living in communities that still do not have access to safe and reliable drinking water or adequate sanitation services.