Alongside state and local elected leaders, health care and
service providers, stakeholders, and families, Governor Newsom
signed
SB 1338 (Umberg/Eggman), the Community Assistance, Recovery,
and Empowerment (CARE) Act, into law on Wednesday in Santa Clara
County. Among local elected officials, CSAC President Ed
Valenzuela (Siskiyou County), Supervisor Susan Ellenberg (Santa
Clara County), and Supervisor Chris Lopez (Monterey County)
attended the signing event.
After months of active engagement with the Administration and
Legislature over the provisions of the CARE Act – which
originated with no county funding and mandated implementation for
all counties by July 1, 2023 – counties successfully advocated
for critical improvements to the CARE Court program, including a
phased-in implementation schedule, $57 million in one-time,
start-up funding for counties, and a statutory commitment that
the CARE Act will become operative only upon consultation with
county stakeholders and the development of a CARE Act allocation
to provide state financial assistance to counties to implement
the CARE Court process.
There is important work ahead, most immediately for the initial
cohort of seven counties embarking upon planning and
implementation activities. CSAC will continue to advocate on
behalf of all counties to ensure a successful programmatic and
fiscally sustainable program going forward.
CSAC Executive Director Graham Knaus’ statement on the bill
signing can be found
here.
