Committee advances SB 27 to clarify Care Court eligibility after hours of testimony

The committee advanced Senate Bill 27, a cleanup and clarification measure for California's Care Court program, after more than an hour of testimony from mental-health clinicians, county behavioral-health directors and disability-advocacy groups.

SB 27, introduced by Senator Umberg, would clarify the Care Act/Care Court eligibility standards — notably by defining “clinically stabilized in ongoing voluntary treatment” — allow certain misdemeanor defendants found incompetent to stand trial to be considered for a care referral, permit data sharing among licensed care partners and broaden eligibility language to include people with mood disorders with psychotic features. The bill was moved out of committee to the Health Committee.

Supporters said the changes are intended to reduce dismissals of care petitions that arise when courts and advocates disagree about whether a person is truly stabilized in community treatment. Dr. Aaron Meyer, introduced himself as a practicing psychiatrist and contracted behavioral health officer for the…