FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022

CONTACT:
MayorPress@sandiego.gov

SAN DIEGO Mayor Todd Gloria today hailed the state Legislatures passage of Gov. Gavin Newsoms CARE Court proposal, as a major step forward in the effort to move unsheltered people off the streets and into treatment and long-term housing.

Every day, San Diegans watch as a tragic situation unfolds on our streets people struggling with serious mental illness and unable to care for themselves, are abandoned and ignored, Mayor Todd Gloria said. We cannot allow this to continue, and the Governors CARE Court program will give these members of our community a fighting chance at accessing the treatment they need to get better.

Mayor Gloria joined Gov. Newsom in San Jose in March to announce CARE Court, and he has been a fierce champion for the proposal ever since. The CARE Court proposal, contained in Senate Bill 1338, authored by Sens. Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) and Susan Eggman (D-Stockton), enjoys the support of the County of San Diego and the mayors of every city in San Diego County; Californias Big City Mayors coalition; the San Diego Chamber of Commerce; and the California Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Mayor Gloria and San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chair Nathan Fletcher co-authored a commentary in support of CARE Court that was published by Cal Matters.

A person can be referred to CARE Court by first responders, service providers, healthcare professionals or even family members. The court would then have a behavioral health professional conduct an evaluation to determine if they are a good candidate.

This person would be represented by a public defender and have access to a volunteer supporter, and if the person opts in as an alternative to jail or a locked facility they would be provided a CARE plan, managed by a CARE team in the community, for up to 24 months that guarantees them supportive services, as well as access to medication and housing resources.

Conservatorship where a judge places a gravely disabled person and their affairs under the control of someone else is a last resort. CARE Court, on the other hand, is voluntary, offering a new way to avoid conservatorship by having government intervene with services earlier. Its a program that creates a shared responsibility between the individual and the government.

In addition to policy changes, Governor Newsom has vowed to make investments in Californias behavioral-health workforce, securing $1.5 billion to fund and recruit qualified and trained professionals to help make CARE Court a success.

Additionally, the Governor has pledged $1.5 billion to address the immediate bridge housing and treatment needs of people experiencing homelessness and another $805 million for adult and senior care facilities, plus more investments in addiction treatment and children and youth behavioral-health services.

The bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor Newsom and will go into effect January 1, 2023, after which the Department of Health Care Services will develop and publish guidelines. The bill establishes a phased implementation, with the first set of counties required to start by October 1, 2023. The bill also mandates a working group be developed to aid with implementation.

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