California 2019-2020 Regular Session Status: In Committee

AB 1946 — Mental health services: involuntary detention.

Last action — Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Assembly
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2019-2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Existing law, the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, authorizes the involuntary commitment and treatment of persons with specified mental health disorders for the protection of the persons so committed. Under the act, if a person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is a danger to others, or to themselves, or is gravely disabled, the person may, upon probable cause, be taken into custody by a peace officer, a member of the attending staff of an evaluation facility, designated members of a mobile crisis team, or another designated professional person, and placed in a facility designated by the county and approved by the State Department of Social Services as a facility for 72-hour treatment and evaluation. The act further authorizes a person who has been detained for 72 hours to be certified for not more than 14 days of intensive treatment related to the mental health disorder under specified conditions, and also authorizes a conservator of the person, of the estate, or of both, to be appointed for a person who is gravely disabled as a result of a mental health disorder. For these purposes, existing law defines "gravely disabled" to mean either a condition in which a person, as a result of a mental health disorder or chronic alcoholism, is unable to provide for the person's basic personal needs for food, clothing, or shelter, or a condition in which a person has been found mentally incompetent, as specified. This bill would expand the definition of "gravely disabled" for these purposes to also include a condition in which a person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is unable to provide for their basic personal needs for medical treatment, if the failure to receive medical treatment, as defined, would likely result in serious bodily harm or death, as attested in writing by a medical professional in their best medical judgment. The bill would, on or before January 1, 2025, require each county to submit a report to the Legislature evaluating the impact of the county's implementation of the above-mentioned provisions of the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act between January 1, 2021, and June 30, 2024, inclusive, with the expanded definition of "gravely disabled." Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) , an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, establishes the continuously appropriated Mental Health Services Fund to fund various county mental health programs. This bill, to the extent permitted under state and federal law and consistent with the Mental Health Services Act and for the purposes of the above-mentioned provisions of the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, would clarify that counties may pay for the services authorized in those provisions using funds from the Mental Health Services Fund when included in county plans, as specified, and would also authorize counties to pay for those services with specified funds from the Local Revenue Fund and the Local Revenue Fund 2011. The bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services to, on or before July 1, 2021, issue guidance specifying which services authorized under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act may be paid by counties with funds from the Mental Health Services Fund. By expanding the above definition of "gravely disabled" and imposing new duties on counties, the bill would increase the duties on local agencies, and would therefore impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.

  2. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. Read second time and amended.

  3. Referred to Com. on HEALTH.

  4. From printer. May be heard in committee February 17.

  5. Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

  • Santiago · Primary
  • Friedman · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 120 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Santiago

Co-sponsors (1)

  • Friedman

Not signed on (120)

120 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

public-safety healthcare labor
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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 1946 do?
Existing law, the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, authorizes the involuntary commitment and treatment of persons with specified mental health disorders for the protection of the persons so committed. Under the act, if a person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is a danger to others, or to themselves, or is gravely disabled, the person may, upon probable cause, be taken into custody by a peace officer, a member of the attending staff of an evaluation facility, designated members of a mobile crisis team, or another designated professional person, and placed in a facility designated by the county and approved by the State Department of Social Services as a facility for 72-hour treatment and evaluation. The act further authorizes a person who has been detained for 72 hours to be certified for not more than 14 days of intensive treatment related to the mental health disorder under specified conditions, and also authorizes a conservator of the person, of the estate, or of both, to be appointed for a person who is gravely disabled as a result of a mental health disorder. For these purposes, existing law defines "gravely disabled" to mean either a condition in which a person, as a result of a mental health disorder or chronic alcoholism, is unable to provide for the person's basic personal needs for food, clothing, or shelter, or a condition in which a person has been found mentally incompetent, as specified. This bill would expand the definition of "gravely disabled" for these purposes to also include a condition in which a person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is unable to provide for their basic personal needs for medical treatment, if the failure to receive medical treatment, as defined, would likely result in serious bodily harm or death, as attested in writing by a medical professional in their best medical judgment. The bill would, on or before January 1, 2025, require each county to submit a report to the Legislature evaluating the impact of the county's implementation of the above-mentioned provisions of the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act between January 1, 2021, and June 30, 2024, inclusive, with the expanded definition of "gravely disabled." Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) , an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, establishes the continuously appropriated Mental Health Services Fund to fund various county mental health programs. This bill, to the extent permitted under state and federal law and consistent with the Mental Health Services Act and for the purposes of the above-mentioned provisions of the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, would clarify that counties may pay for the services authorized in those provisions using funds from the Mental Health Services Fund when included in county plans, as specified, and would also authorize counties to pay for those services with specified funds from the Local Revenue Fund and the Local Revenue Fund 2011. The bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services to, on or before July 1, 2021, issue guidance specifying which services authorized under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act may be paid by counties with funds from the Mental Health Services Fund. By expanding the above definition of "gravely disabled" and imposing new duties on counties, the bill would increase the duties on local agencies, and would therefore impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Who sponsors AB 1946?
AB 1946 is sponsored by Santiago and Friedman.
What is the current status of AB 1946?
This bill died with 2019-2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track AB 1946?
Track AB 1946 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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