Assembly Health Committee advances SB 27 to expand Care Court to select bipolar cases, with amendments and debate on capacity

SACRAMENTO — The Assembly Health Committee on July 8 moved SB 27 by Senator Tom Umberg out of committee to the Committee on Public Safety after accepting amendments that limit an expansion of California’s Care Court program and sharpen eligibility definitions.

SB 27 now narrows the proposed expansion from a broad set of mood disorders to Bipolar I disorder with psychosis, removes two paragraphs from the statutory definition of “clinically stabilized,” and clarifies that enrollment in treatment alone does not necessarily mean a person is clinically stabilized. The bill was approved by the committee on a roll call and is due passed to the Committee on Public Safety.

Supporters, including the bill’s author and front‑line clinicians, said the amendments create needed clarity that could reduce dismissals of family petitions. “If implementation is going to match the hope of the Care Act, we must address the high percentage of Care Act petition dismissals,” said Dr. Aaron Meyer, behavioral health officer…