Existing law, the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act (the act), authorizes specified persons, including a person with whom the respondent resides, family members, and first responders, among others, to petition a civil court to create a voluntary CARE agreement or a court-ordered CARE plan and implement services, to be provided by county behavioral health agencies, to provide behavioral health care, including stabilization medication, housing, and other enumerated services, to adults who are currently experiencing a severe mental illness and have a diagnosis identified in the disorder class schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, and who meet other specified criteria. Existing law requires that if the court finds that the respondent meets the CARE criteria, the court is required to order the county behavioral health agency, the respondent, and the respondent’s counsel and supporter to jointly develop a CARE plan within 14 days.

This bill would instead require a court to order the county behavioral health agency, the respondent, and the respondent’s counsel and supporter to jointly develop a CARE plan within 21 days.