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 for the City of San Diego, citing state reporting that “62 percent of family petitions were dismissed.” Meyer testified SB 27 clarifies that enrollment or mere participation in treatment is not itself proof of clinical stabilization.

A family member who testified said the measure had practical benefits for families. She told the committee her adult daughter “qualified 2 days after my submission of the petition” and that outreach teams were meeting her where she was living to build trust and offer housing and services. The witness described Care Court as an option after other levels of care and criminal‑justice involvement had not produced stable outcomes.

Opponents including the County Behavioral Health Directors of California urged caution. Michelle Cabrera argued the bill’s urgency clause and immediate effective date could sharply expand the pool of eligible people “overnight” and outstrip county capacity for outreach staff and housing. “By expanding the eligible population exponentially overnight without more staff, resources, and perhaps more importantly, the housing to satisfy the courts, we will fall short of delivering both for those who come to us voluntarily, but perhaps more importantly, for those whose needs are more intensive,” Cabrera said.

State Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Stephanie Welch said counties have used behavioral health bridge housing funds to prioritize people eligible for Care Court and that beginning July 1, 2026, counties will be allowed to use Behavioral Health Services Act funds for certain housing supports. Welch told the committee that not all Care Court‑eligible people are unhoused and that available data indicate the population addition would be a fraction of the current state population when all eligibility criteria are applied.

Committee members pressed on capacity, timelines, and safeguards. Assemblymember Patel asked how counties would scale housing and outreach on short notice; Cabrera repeated concerns about court timelines and staff burden. The author said the bill was a cleanup effort to match implementation to original intent and added that Care Court aims to increase accountability for both counties and individuals through a court‑supervised treatment plan.

Votes at a glance: the committee recorded the bill as due passed to the Committee on Public Safety on a roll call vote. The motion was made by Agriar Curry and seconded by Patel; the roll call recorded all present members voting in favor.

What’s next: SB 27 will go to the Assembly Committee on Public Safety for further consideration. Supporters said they expect additional oversight and reporting to follow as counties implement the expanded eligibility and clarified standards.

Ending: Advocates on both sides told the committee they want the program to work but disagreed about timing and capacity. Supporters said the amendments reduce ambiguity that leads to dismissed petitions; counties said implementation resources and housing availability must be aligned before any immediate expansion.