Bill Text: CA SB1045 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Conservatorship: serious mental illness and substance use disorders.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)

Status: (Passed) 2018-09-27 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 845, Statutes of 2018. [SB1045 Detail]

Download: California-2017-SB1045-Introduced.html

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 1045

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Introduced by Senators Wiener and Stern
(Coauthors: Senators Allen and Bradford)

February 08, 2018

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An act relating to conservatorship.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1045, as introduced, Wiener. Conservatorship: chronic homelessness: mental health.

Existing law provides a procedure for the appointment of a conservator for a person who is determined to be gravely disabled as a result of a mental health disorder or an impairment by chronic alcoholism. Existing law defines “gravely disabled” as, among other things, a condition in which a person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is unable to provide for his or her basic personal needs for food, clothing, or shelter. Existing law requires an officer, including a county public guardian or a county mental health program, to conduct a conservatorship investigation and render a written report to the court of his or her investigation.

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would expand conservatorships to better meet the needs of the most vulnerable individuals who suffer from chronic homelessness accompanied by severe mental illness, drug addiction, repeated commitments, or exceptionally frequent use of emergency medical services. The bill would further state that the new legislation would maintain the many checks and balances necessary to protect individuals with mental illness, as specified, while facilitating their path to permanent housing and necessary supportive services.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would expand conservatorships to better meet the needs of the most vulnerable individuals who suffer from chronic homelessness accompanied by severe mental illness, drug addiction, repeated commitments, or exceptionally frequent use of emergency medical services.

(b) It is further the intent of the Legislature that the new legislation would maintain the many checks and balances necessary to protect individuals with mental illness from being incorrectly or unnecessarily placed on conservatorship, while facilitating their path to permanent housing and necessary supportive services.