Behavioral Health Crisis Response Advisory Group.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on what changes will be made based on the advisory group's recommendations, leaving this aspect uncertain.

Behavioral Health Crisis Response Advisory Group

This law establishes an advisory group to examine and recommend improvements in how law enforcement interacts with mental health crisis situations.

What This Bill Does

• Establishes the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Advisory Group to study the role of law enforcement in responding to behavioral health crises.
• Requires the advisory group to include representatives from various state agencies, including health care services and law enforcement.
• Specifies that the advisory group must meet at least once every three months until December 31, 2028.
• Directs the California Health and Human Services Agency to collaborate with the advisory group to make recommendations on coordination between emergency response systems and mental health crisis services accessed through 988.
• Requires annual reports from January 1, 2028, until January 1, 2030, detailing findings and recommendations.

Who It Names or Affects

• People working in law enforcement, healthcare, and government agencies involved with behavioral health crises.
• Local governments that may need to comply with new state rules regarding mental health crisis response.

Terms To Know

Involuntary commitment

When someone is taken into custody by law enforcement or other authorities because they are a danger to themselves or others due to a mental health issue.

Lanterman-Petris-Short Act

A California law that outlines procedures for the involuntary commitment and treatment of people with mental disorders who may be dangerous to themselves or others.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what changes will be made based on the advisory group's recommendations.
• Local governments might need additional funding if new state rules require them to change how they handle mental health emergencies.
• After January 1, 2031, the provisions of this law will no longer apply.

Official Summary Text

SB 1028, as amended, Archuleta.
Involuntary commitment.
Behavioral Health Crisis Response Advisory Group.
Existing law, the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, provides for the involuntary commitment and treatment of persons with specified mental disorders. Under the act, when a person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is a danger to others or to themselves, or is gravely disabled, the person may, upon probable cause, be taken into custody
by specified individuals, including, among others, peace officers,
and placed in a facility designated by the county and approved by the State Department of Health Care Services for up to 72 hours for evaluation and treatment.
This bill would
make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.
require the California Health and Human Services Agency (agency) to establish the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Advisory Group for the purpose of examining the role of law enforcement in behavioral health crisis response, as specified. The bill would require the membership of the advisory group to include representatives from, among others, the agency, the State Department of Health Care Services, law enforcement agencies, and county behavioral health departments, as appointed by the Governor. The bill would require the advisory group to meet on or before July 1, 2027, and at least once per quarter thereafter until December 31, 2028. The bill would require the agency, in collaboration with the advisory group, to make recommendations on specified topics, to the extent they relate to law enforcement interaction with behavioral health crisis response, including, among others, a state governance structure to support coordination between behavioral health crisis services accessed through 988 and
emergency response systems. The bill would require the agency, in collaboration with the advisory group, to conduct an assessment of the risks associated with categorical nonresponse
or limited-response policies adopted by local law enforcement agencies and whether statewide minimum standards or procedural safeguards are needed to prevent gaps in behavioral health crisis response. The bill would require the agency on January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter until January 1, 2030, to report recommendations and assessment results, as specified, to the Legislature. By imposing additional duties on local agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2031.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

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