Senate Bill 43 Signed What This Means For Expanded Conservatorship Law And Mental Health Care In California

Avery radula

Sacramento, CA – This week, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the signing of Senate Bill 43 (SB 43), which expands the definition of what counts as foster care to better serve California's mental health system and protect more people. in times of crisis.

A conservatorship is public assistance to connect a person with medical help and outside resources in an emergency mental health crisis, the law states that a family member or guardian of the person under supervision will be responsible for the person's care, both personal and medical. . Take care of finances.

Newsom's signed statement said, "Conservation can help break the cycle of repeated crises, including arrest and incarceration, psychiatric hospitalization, homelessness and even premature death, and instead provide care that can restore sanity and end conservatism." "

He added that since California's guardianship laws have remained largely unchanged since 1967, the governor sees the move as an important step in addressing the state's mental health needs.

Before SB 43, California granted guardianships to those who were "extremely indigent" or who were unable to provide shelter, food and clothing due to serious mental illness , Newsom said in a statement.

However, the definition of "severe disability" under SB 43, in addition to the 1967 definition, includes individuals who are unable to care for their own safety or medical needs because of a serious substance use disorder or serious mental illness.

“In addition, Senate Bill 43 covers people with serious substance use disorders, such as chronic alcoholism, and no longer requires a co-occurring mental disorder. "This new legislation will update the circumstances under which these interventions can be considered and create the first meaningful transparency of data and equity in mental health services," Newsom's office added.

Senators passed Senate Bill 43. Susan Eggman (D-Modesto), who as a former social worker understands the need for mental health empowerment and support.

Eggman explained. “The law establishes strong protections for civil liberties and is essential to ensure the protection of individual rights. As with many things that have come and gone over the decades, we need to make some adjustments to the law to accommodate the realities we see on the road today. SB 43 maintains the LPS Act's strong due process protections while expanding the criteria for receiving ``severely disabled'' status so that patients with more severe conditions can receive the care they need and the status they deserve."

Eggman and Newsom are supported by many California elected officials and health professionals.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed said, "Senate Bill 43 will allow us to provide vital behavioral health support to those struggling in our cities and on the streets. I thank Senator Eggman for his strong leadership on this legislation and for people across California to find stability, healing and their Kudos to Governor Newsom for working to make sure he gets the help he needs to get life back on track."

Dr. is grateful to the California State Psychiatric Association and its thousands of members (Eggman and Newsom) that state laws need to be updated to reflect the painful realities that behavioral health professionals in our community face every day."

Senate Bill 43 is part of a larger effort in the governor's plan, he said, to modernize California's mental health resources and end substance abuse, incarceration and mental health hospitalizations in times of crisis.

“California is reforming our mental health system. Mental health crises affect us all and those who need help the most are often overlooked. "We're working to make sure no one falls through the cracks and people get the help they need and the respect they deserve," Newsom said.

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