California Lawmakers Considering Several Mental Health Reform Bills
California lawmakers are considering several bills that aim to address the state's mental health care system, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Details of Bills
According to the Times, the bills seek to reform the state's involuntary treatment policies, which have been a point of contention among advocates.
Specifically, the bills include:
- AB 59, by Assembly member Marie Waldron (R-Escondido), which would encourage more counties to implement Laura's Law -- a state law that permits court-ordered outpatient treatment for people with severe mental health issues -- by streamlining the opt-in process;
- AB 1193, by Assembly member Susan Eggman (D-Stockton), which would require county supervisors to hold an opt-out vote if they do not want to implement Laura's Law, as well as extend the sunset date of Laura's Law from 2017 to 2022;
- AB 1194, by Eggman, which would mandate that law enforcement officials consider an individual's history in addition to current actions when deciding whether to place the individual on a forced 72-hour psychiatric hold; and
- AB 1300, by Assembly member Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles), which would standardize the 72-hour psychiatric hold process and improve the transfer process for psychiatric patients, such as by appointing liaisons and facilitating transportation (Sewell, Los Angeles Times, 4/13).