WatchGov

California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California SB 989

Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (4)

Summary

Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary

Existing law, the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) 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. This bill would authorize a first responder to contact the county behavioral health agency in the county in which the individual resides or is found to request the agency file a petition to commence the CARE process. The bill would require the agency to review the request and determine whether to file a petition within 30 business days. The bill would require the agency, upon completion of the review, to notify the first responder that made the referral of specified information, including whether or not a petition was filed. Because the bill would require a higher level of service from county agencies, this bill would create a state-mandated local program. This bill would require the department to create a referral form to be used by the first responders and would require the department to issue guidance on the procedure to request that the agency file a petition to commence the CARE process. The bill would also require the agency to include specified data in their annual report to the department. 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.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:06 AM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Aug 28, 2026
Senate		Unfinished Business SB989 Blakespear et al. ConcurrencepassSet your home in California to see
Aug 25, 2026
House		SB 989 Blakespear Senate Third Reading By PatelpassSet your home in California to see
Aug 13, 2026
House		Do pass.passSet your home in California to see
Jun 23, 2026
House		Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
Jun 16, 2026
House		Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]passSet your home in California to see
May 27, 2026
Senate		3rd Reading SB989 Blakespear et al.passSet your home in California to see
May 14, 2026
Senate		Do pass as amendedpassSet your home in California to see
May 4, 2026
Senate		Placed on suspense filepassSet your home in California to see
Apr 21, 2026
Senate		Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
Apr 15, 2026
Senate		Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]passSet your home in California to see

Actions