Full Breakdown
California Senate Bills Aim to Bridge Gaps in CARE Court Mental Health Program
4/28/2026, 1:59:14 AM
Legislative Initiative to Expand CARE Court
Sen. Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) introduced SB 1016, permitting an assessment that can trigger a conservatorship for “gravely disabled” individuals, and SB 989, allowing EMTs and firefighters to refer people to county behavioral-health offices for a CARE Court petition within 30 days. Both bills cleared Senate Judiciary Committee in April 2026.
CARE Court Background and Performance
Gov. Gavin Newsom launched CARE Court in 2023 to move untreated psychosis off streets. By Jan 2026, 3,817 petitions were filed, 893 treatment agreements approved, and judges ordered mandatory CARE plans only 32 times, showing limited enforcement.
Key Stakeholders
Sen. Blakespear; Gov. Newsom; Sen. Tom Umberg (bipolar-disorder expansion); Samuel Jain, Disability Rights California; Jennifer Farrell, Alameda County advocate; Meagan Subers, California Professional Firefighters; Stanislaus County (pilot referral model).
Official Statements & Responses
Newsom called CARE Court a “piece” of his mental-health plan to curb street homelessness, and Umberg’s law added bipolar-disorder psychosis to eligibility. Senate Judiciary Committee praised bills as “bridges” between voluntary and involuntary care.
Criticism & Opposition
Samuel Jain warned that “adding the specter of forced care will make people with mental illness less likely to accept CARE Court help.” Jennifer Farrell called the lack of a conservatorship route “absurd,” noting her brother’s street decline before a hold led to a conservatorship.
On-the-Ground Reports
Jennifer Farrell filed a CARE Court petition for her brother in 2024. He entered housing, left in September, and spent months on streets before a case worker located him, leading to a psychiatric hold and conservatorship. Meagan Subers said firefighters feel “helpless” transporting people to emergency rooms.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources give petition and approval totals but do not disclose how many would be placed in conservatorships under SB 1016, nor outcomes for counties using direct referrals (e.g., Stanislaus). SB 989’s impact on first-responder workload remains unquantified.
What's Next
The bills await Senate and Assembly votes. If enacted, SB 1016 would require counties to adopt assessment protocols and conservatorship referral processes; SB 989 would obligate fire departments and EMT agencies to submit referrals to behavioral-health offices within 30 days. Stakeholders will monitor petition volume, conservatorship rates, and feedback.
Verbatim Quotes
- “While early implementation shows promise,” Sen. Catherine Blakespear, a Democrat from Encinitas, said during a recent committee hearing, “barriers in the current petition process are preventing the program from reaching many of the individuals it was designed to serve.” — Catherine Blakespear, Senator
- “When our members have to run these calls repeatedly on individuals and take them to the hospital, knowing that they’re going to have to respond to that person again, my members tell me that they feel helpless,” she said. “We see this pathway as another option for them.” — Meagan Subers, President, California Professional Firefighters
- “Adding the specter of forced care will make people with mental illness less likely to accept help from CARE Court, Samuel Jain of Disability Rights California said during the committee hearing.” — Samuel Jain, Disability Rights California
- “I was really frustrated at that point,” — Jennifer Farrell, Family Advocate (Alameda County)
