Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Behavioral Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County readies Care Court and SB 43 changes; small initial caseload expected
Summary
Behavioral health leaders told the board San Luis Obispo is preparing to implement SB 43 and the new Care Court (CalAIM) program, with planning underway for services, housing prioritization and reporting; staff expect a small initial caseload and state funding to offset some non‑Medi‑Cal costs.
Behavioral Health staff briefed the Board on Senate Bill 43 changes to LPS holds and plans to implement the state’s Care Court pilot under CalAIM. The new rules broaden certain "gravely disabled" criteria and allow consideration of severe substance‑use disorder in some cases.
Star Graver, Behavioral Health Director, said the county expects modest impacts so far and reported no large surge in involuntary holds since SB 43 changes took effect earlier in the year. Teresa Pemberton, who is leading local Care Court planning, said the program is narrowly targeted to adults with schizophrenia‑spectrum or other psychotic disorders who are deteriorating, and that the process is civil and based on supported decision‑making with a public defender and court hearings.
Pemberton said Care Court petitions will require documentation (including recent 72‑hour holds) and behavioral‑health assessments; Behavioral Health must evaluate referred individuals within a 14‑day window and be present at progress hearings every 60 days. The county is planning to add one staff position to meet statutory functions, and bridge housing funded through a state grant has been allocated with prioritized placements for Care Court participants.
The county expects to begin program operations in December and to pilot with a small cohort (staff estimated perhaps 10 individuals initially). Supervisors welcomed the briefing and asked for continued updates as the operational details and reporting requirements to the state are finalized.
What's next: Behavioral Health will finalize operational workflows, staff the mandated court presence, and report back to the board on budget and caseload once the Care Court launch is near.
