Assembly Health Committee approves SB 27 to refine Care Court eligibility and clarify clinical stabilization

Senators and witnesses told the Assembly Health Committee on July 8 that SB 27 would tighten definitions and preserve safeguards in California’s Care Court process while narrowly extending eligibility to people with bipolar I disorder accompanied by psychosis.

Supporters said the bill addresses a high dismissal rate for family petitions and clarifies that mere enrollment in treatment does not automatically mean a person is "clinically stabilized." "For respondents who were already enrolled in treatment prior to petition filing, why would people take the time and effort to complete these petitions when everything is fine?" said Aaron Meyer, behavioral health officer for the city of San Diego and a practicing psychiatrist. Meyer cited a state report that he summarized as showing a high percentage of family petitions were dismissed and said SB 27 would reduce dismissals by clarifying that stabilization requires more than enrollment alone.

The bill’s author, Senator Tom Umberg, told the committee Care Court was intended to create…