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\u201cSB 27 is critical for the effective expansion and implementation of CARE Court in California,\u201d\u00a0said Senator Umberg. \u201cWith this legislation, more Californians will finally receive the assistance they need to fully reintegrate into society. SB 27 provides a balanced and compassionate path forward\u2014far preferable to the extremes we\u2019ve seen elsewhere, whether it\u2019s sweeping executive orders on civil commitments or doing nothing at all and allowing people to die on our streets. The beauty of CARE Court is that it holds both institutions and individuals accountable, ensures individuals get the care they need and gives judges a clear role in overseeing and guiding the process. This bill focuses on implementation by listening to and learning from counties about what\u2019s working and what\u2019s not, in order to meet the goals of the original CARE Court legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The CARE Act,\u00a0first launched in 2023 to provide new court-supervised pathways into behavioral health care<\/a>, has already transformed how California approaches serious mental illnesses. CARE Court \u2014\u00a0underway in 58 counties statewide<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 is a first-in-the-nation approach to empower individuals suffering from untreated or undertreated schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders to get the treatment and housing they need to recover and thrive. SB 27 enhances the framework by expanding eligibility for CARE, improving court coordination, and ensuring county health agencies and courts can intervene more quickly when someone\u2019s mental health deteriorates.<\/p>\n SB 27 updates California\u2019s behavioral health framework to improve early intervention, streamline court processes, and bring compassion and accountability into balance for individuals facing severe mental illness.\u00a0 Providing a stable pathway out of the justice system\u00a0<\/p>\n SB 27 ensures closer coordination between criminal courts and behavioral health systems by requiring judges to consider CARE as a frontline option for misdemeanor defendants with serious mental illness. Many of these individuals cycle through the criminal justice system for years, as, once they exit jail-based treatment, they lack reliable access to mental health care, stable housing, and other necessary supportive services. CARE can provide them with an enduring path to stability, making it much less likely that they reoffend \u2014 a far better outcome for them, their loved ones, and the public at large. Expanding access to CARE<\/p>\n The legislation broadens eligibility under the CARE Act to include individuals who suffer from bipolar I disorder with psychotic features, ensuring that more Californians facing serious mental health challenges are able to access licensed professionals\u2013such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants\u2013together with the other supportive services available through CARE.<\/p>\n By refining the CARE framework, SB 27 makes it easier for courts and local agencies to connect people with treatment before they fall through the cracks. The bill reaffirms California\u2019s commitment to addressing mental illness through compassion, accountability, and access \u2013 giving individuals a path to recovery rather than incarceration.<\/p>\n SB 27\u00a0continues California\u2019s effort<\/a>\u00a0to build a modern, coordinated system of behavioral healthcare \u2014 one that responds quickly, treats people with dignity, and delivers lasting outcomes for communities across the state. Care and compassion<\/p>\n CARE courts are a key component of Governor Newsom\u2019s comprehensive strategy to address homelessness and help ensure people get the support they need. More than 1.2 million adults in California live with a serious mental illness, and 1 in 10 residents meet the criteria for a substance use disorder. California\u2019s mental health system was dismantled under then-Governor Reagan, leaving the criminal justice system as the major way for people to get the help they need.\u00a0 Since taking office in 2019, Governor Newsom has created\u00a0unprecedented policy and structural changes<\/a>\u00a0in state government to\u00a0transform its mental health systems<\/a>\u00a0and also address the homelessness crises, including additional and unprecedented\u00a0support for local governments<\/a>,\u00a0stronger accountability<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0enforcement<\/a>, and\u00a0groundbreaking reforms<\/a>. Reversing a decades-in-the-making crisis<\/p>\n Between 2014 and 2019 \u2014 before Governor Newsom took office \u2014 unsheltered homelessness in California rose by approximately 37,000 people. Since then, under this Administration, California has significantly slowed that growth, even as many other states have seen worsening trends.<\/p>\n In 2024, while homelessness increased nationally by over 18%,\u00a0California limited its overall increase to just 3% \u2014 a lower rate than in 40 other states.<\/a>\u00a0The state also held the growth of unsheltered homelessness to just 0.45%, compared to a national increase of nearly 7%. States like Florida, Texas, New York, and Illinois saw larger increases both in percentage and absolute numbers. California also achieved the nation\u2019s largest reduction in veteran homelessness and made meaningful progress in reducing\u00a0youth homelessness.<\/p>\n
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