By SDCN Editor
Sacramento, CA–Governor Gavin Newsom Friday signed a package of bills aimed at strengthening access, accountability, and outcomes in the state’s behavioral health care system, especially for those with the most serious mental health issues and substance use disorders.
Senate Bill 42, authored by Senator Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana), streamlines county and court implementation of the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act by improving the petition process, clarifying types of communication between petitioners, respondents, judges, and county behavioral health departments, and strengthening CARE as a means to ensure participants’ long-term stabilization.
“Governor Newsom and I are committed wholeheartedly to CARE Court’s success. SB 42 honors that commitment by making critical adjustments to CARE Court to further help families and those enrolled in CARE Court before it is implemented statewide this December,” Senator Tom Umberg said.
Senate Bill 1238, by Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton), expands the types of facilities where people who are held on a temporary conservatorship for substance use disorder care may receive treatment to also include mental health rehabilitation centers and psychiatric health facilities.
Senator Eggman says the bill expands the range of facilities that can treat individuals with severe substance use disorders and provides the Department of Health Care Services with the authority to approve future facility types to treat those who are ‘gravely disabled’ from either a severe substance use disorder or mental health disorder.
“I am tremendously grateful that Governor Newsom has consistently leaned into investing in solutions to the behavioral health problems we see on the streets in communities around the state,” Sen. Eggman said.
Senate Bill 1400 by Senator Henry Stern (D-Calabasas), increases transparency and accountability for counties and courts in implementing the CARE Act by requiring additional annual reporting to the state and also requires a court in a Misdemeanor Incompetent to Stand Trial hearing to determine if the individual is eligible for programs or treatment before dismissing a case.
“This law will prevent thousands of severely mentally ill people who are arrested from simply being recycled from jail back into the streets. This is a problem that must be remedied with front-loaded mental health care,” Senator Stern said.
AB 2376 by Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains (D-Bakersfield), increases the number of hospital beds available for the treatment of substance use disorder – including chemical dependency recovery services, medications for addiction treatment, and medically supervised inpatient detoxification care – by providing facilities with new flexibility in managing their treatment slots.
“As a physician and addiction specialist, I know that the addiction crisis facing our state requires mobilizing resources at every level,” Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains said.
CARE Court is a first-in-the-nation approach to creating accountability for connecting individuals with untreated psychosis to the treatment and housing they need. Under CARE Court, families, first responders, health care providers, and others can take action and file a petition with their local CARE Court to help people with untreated schizophrenia spectrum or psychotic disorders get treatment and housing. As of August, CARE courts in nine counties are helping more than 700 people get treatment and housing – often in response to petitions filed by a family member. All 58 counties will offer CARE Courts by December 1.
In 2023, Newsom signed into law SB 43 (Eggman, D-Stockton) to modernize the state’s conservatorship laws for the first time in more than 50 years. The law updated the definition of “gravely disabled” for those eligible for a conservatorship to include people who are unable to provide for their personal safety or necessary medical care, in addition to food, clothing, or shelter. The law now includes people who are gravely disabled due to a severe substance use disorder, as well as serious mental illnesses.
“Tackling the mental health and substance use disorder crises facing our nation and state is one of the most important goals of my administration. We are acting urgently to get life-saving treatment and supportive housing through innovative solutions like CARE Court and conservatorship reform, and working to ensure that these initiatives respond to the feedback we’re seeing on the ground,” Governor Gavin Newsom.
California is transforming the entire behavioral health care system. The result is more and better mental health and substance use disorder care for all Californians. In March, voters passed Proposition 1, which includes two parts: a $6.4 billion Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond to build treatment settings and housing with services, and a historic reform of the Behavioral Health Services Act to focus on people with the most serious illnesses, substance disorders, and supportive housing needs. Prop 1 is being implemented across the state at record speed.
