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Sonoma County health officials say SB 43 will sharply increase conservatorship demand and strain local services
Summary
County health and human services officials told the Board that SB 43'which expands the definition of grave disability to include severe substance use disorder'is likely to raise conservatorship caseloads two ozen percent and create significant unfunded costs for placements and staffing.
Sonoma County officials warned supervisors that the state's Senate Bill 43, which expands the definition of "grave disability" to include severe substance use disorder, will increase the county's conservatorship workload and costs while providing no new state funding. "SB 43 goes into play on 01/01/2026," Department of Health Services Director Nolan Sullivan said during a staff briefing, and he urged supervisors to be prepared for hard budget choices.
The presentation, led by Nolan Sullivan and county behavioral-health staff, laid out the practical impacts county leaders will face. "SB 43 is a change in the LPS Act... it will affect those with severe substance use disorders," David Evans, a Health Services speaker, told the board. Staff said Sonoma currently has about 197 people on conservatorship, including 12 who meet the Murphy conservatorship criteria; placing the…
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