Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide detailed information about which first responders can use this process or what happens after a CARE plan is put in place.

CARE Court Program

This law allows first responders to ask county health agencies to start a CARE process for people with severe mental illness, and it sets rules for how the agencies must respond.

What This Bill Does

• Allows first responders to contact local health agencies about starting a CARE process for someone who might need help because of serious mental health issues.
• Requires these agencies to check if the person meets the criteria for CARE within 30 days and then tell the first responder what they found out.
• Gives first responders the right to ask a court to order the agency to start the CARE process or appeal the agency's decision not to do so.
• Needs local health departments to report certain information about their CARE activities each year.
• Requires the state department to create forms and guidelines for first responders to use when asking agencies to start the CARE process.

Who It Names or Affects

• First responders who can ask county behavioral health agencies to start a CARE process.
• People with severe mental illnesses who might be eligible for the CARE program.
• County behavioral health agencies that must follow new rules about starting and reporting on CARE processes.

Terms To Know

CARE

Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment - a program to help people with severe mental illnesses get the care they need.

First responder

A person like a police officer or firefighter who responds to emergencies.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how much it will cost local agencies, and if costs are mandated by the state, they must be reimbursed according to specific rules.
• It is unclear exactly which first responders can use this process or what happens after a CARE plan is put in place.

Official Summary Text

SB 989, as amended, Blakespear.
Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program.
Existing law, the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act, authorizes specified persons, including a person with whom the respondent resides, family members, first responders, among others, to petition a civil court to create a voluntary CARE agreement or a court-ordered CARE plan and implement services, to be provided by county behavioral health agencies, to provide behavioral health care, including stabilization medication, housing, and other enumerated services, to adults who are currently experiencing a severe mental illness and have a diagnosis identified in the disorder class schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, and who meet other specified criteria.
This bill would authorize a first responder to contact the county behavioral health agency in the county in which the respondent resides to request the agency file
a petition to commence the CARE process. The bill would require the agency to
investigate whether or not the respondent meets the criteria to qualify for the CARE process
review the request and determine whether to file a petition
within 30 business days.
This bill would also authorize the requester to seek a court order if the agency does not investigate the respondent, or appeal the agency’s determination on whether or not to file a petition to commence the process.
The bill would require the agency, upon completion of the review, to notify the first responder that made the referral of specified information, including whether
or not a petition was filed. Because the bill would require a higher level of service from county agencies, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.
This bill would require the department to create a referral form to be used by the first
responders. The bill would also
responders and would
require the department to issue guidance on the procedure to request that the agency file a petition to commence the CARE
process and county behavioral health agency data reporting requirements.
process.
The bill would also require the agency to include specified
data in their annual report to the department.
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

Download Bill PDF