Bill Text: CA AB2830 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: The Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-04-26 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. [AB2830 Detail]
Download: California-2021-AB2830-Amended.html
Amended
IN
Assembly
April 07, 2022 |
Amended
IN
Assembly
March 24, 2022 |
Introduced by Assembly Member Bloom |
February 18, 2022 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
Existing law, the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, provides generally for the involuntary detention, evaluation, treatment, and civil commitment of persons with mental health disorders and other specified persons for the protection of the persons committed. Under the act, when a person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is a danger to others, or to themselves, or gravely disabled, the person may, upon probable cause, be taken into custody and placed in a facility designated by the county and approved by the State Department of Social Services for up to 72 hours for evaluation and treatment. Existing law requires a person admitted to a facility for 72-hour treatment and evaluation under the act to receive an evaluation as soon as possible after admission and to receive whatever treatment and care their
condition requires for the period that the person is held.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to develop a framework for a Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) court to deliver mental health and substance use disorder services to the most severely impaired Californians. This bill would require the California Health and Human Services Agency to develop a plan, by July 1, 2023, that includes, among other things, a referral process for individuals with specified mental disorders who lack decisionmaking capacity and a process for a civil court to order a clinical evaluation for an individual referred to the CARE Court. This bill would also require the agency to convene and establish a stakeholder process in the development of the plan described above.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program:Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:SEC. 2.
Section 1374.723 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:1374.723.
(a) A health care service plan contract issued, amended, renewed, or delivered on or after July 1, 2023, that covers hospital, medical, or surgical expenses shall cover the cost of developing an evaluation pursuant to Section 5977 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and the provision of all health care services for an enrollee when required or recommended for the enrollee pursuant to a care plan approved by a court in accordance with the court’s authority under Sections 5977 and 5982 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.SEC. 3.
Section 1370.01 of the Penal Code is amended to read:1370.01.
(a) If the defendant is found mentally competent, the criminal process shall resume, and the trial on the offense charged or hearing on the alleged violation shall proceed.SEC. 4.
Part 8 (commencing with Section 5970) is added to Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:PART 8. The Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment Act
CHAPTER 1. General Provisions
5970.
This part shall be known, and may be cited, as Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act.5971.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall govern the construction of this part.CHAPTER 2. Process
5972.
A court may order a respondent to participate in CARE proceedings if the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that the facts stated in the petition are true and establish that the requisite criteria set forth in this section are met, including all of the following:5973.
Proceedings under this part may be commenced in any of the following:5974.
The following persons may file a petition to initiate CARE proceedings:5975.
The petition shall be signed under the penalty of perjury and contain all of the following:5976.
The respondent shall have all of the following rights:5977.
(a) (1) Upon receipt by the court of a petition, the court shall set an initial hearing not later than 14 days from the date the petition is filed with the court.5978.
(a) A court may refer an individual from assisted outpatient treatment and conservatorship proceedings to CARE proceedings.CHAPTER 3. Accountability
5979.
(a) If, at any time during the proceedings, the court determines by a preponderance of evidence that the respondent is not participating in CARE proceedings, after the respondent receives notice, or is failing to comply with their CARE plan, the court may terminate the respondent’s participation in the CARE program. The court may utilize existing legal authority pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 5200) of Chapter 2 of Part 1, to ensure the respondent’s safety. The subsequent proceedings may use the CARE proceedings as a factual presumption that no suitable community alternatives are available to treat the individual.CHAPTER 4. The Supporter
5980.
(a) Subject to appropriation, the California Department of Aging shall administer the CARE Supporter program, which shall make available a trained supporter to the respondent. The department shall train the supporter on supported decisionmaking with individuals who have behavioral health conditions and on the use of psychiatric advance directives, with support and input from peers, family members, disability groups, providers, and other relevant stakeholders. The department may enter into a technical assistance and training agreement to provide trainings either directly to supporters or to the contracted entities who will be responsible for hiring and matching supporters to respondents. The CARE Supporter program contracts shall include labor standards.5981.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the respondent may have their supporter present, if available, in any meeting, judicial proceeding, or communication related to any of the following:CHAPTER 5. CARE Plan
5982.
The CARE plan shall be created by the respondent, their supporter and counsel, and the county behavioral health agency. The plan shall include all of the following components:CHAPTER 6. Technical Assistance and Administration
5983.
(a) Subject to appropriation, the State Department of Health Care Services shall provide technical assistance to county behavioral health agencies to support the implementation of this part, including trainings regarding the CARE model and statute and data collection.5984.
(a) For purposes of implementing this part, the California Health and Human Services Agency, the State Department of Health Care Services, and the California Department of Aging may enter into exclusive or nonexclusive contracts, or amend existing contracts, on a bid or negotiated basis. Contracts entered into or amended pursuant to this part shall be exempt from Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of Part 5.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, Section 19130 of the Government Code, Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, and the State Administrative Manual, and shall be exempt from the review or approval of any division of the Department of General Services.SEC. 5.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution for certain costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district because, in that regard, this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.It is the intent of the Legislature to develop a new framework for a Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) court to deliver mental health and substance use disorder services to the most severely impaired Californians who too often languish, suffering in homelessness or incarceration, without the treatment they desperately need.
By July 1, 2023, the California Health and Human Services Agency shall develop a plan that includes all of the following components for the CARE Court program:
(a)Referral process to the court for individuals with untreated schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorders who lack medical decisionmaking capacity.
(b)A process for the civil court to order a clinical evaluation of the individual referred to the CARE Court program.
(c)The appointment by the court of a public defender and a person to act as a supporter on behalf of the individual.
(d)The
development of a care plan based on the clinical evaluation, which may include behavioral health treatment services, stabilization medication, and a housing plan.
The agency shall convene and establish a stakeholder process in the development of the plan.