Roundup: Latest Actions from the Commission on State Mandates and What It Means for Counties 

A rolling stone gathers no moss, and things continue to roll forward with the Commission on State Mandates processes for pending issues. Since our update last week, the Department of Finance published their comments on a pending test claim, CSAC submitted a comment letter for a different pending test claim, and the State Controller’s Office (SCO) is expected to publish two sets of new claiming instructions soon.  

A complete list of all matters pending before the Commission and recent actions is available on the pending caseload webpage. To receive updates directly from the Commission, subscribe to their email lists. 

Questions about the Commission on State Mandates or the state mandate reimbursement process in general? Contact Jessica Sankus, Principal Fiscal and Policy Analyst, at jsankus@counties.org. 

COMMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE 

Emergency Communications in Non-English Languages, 25-TC-03 (View Matter)  

Recent developments: This week, the Department of Finance submitted a comment letter to the Commission with their assessment of the test claim and whether the program meets the criteria for reimbursement from the state. Therein, the Department of Finance opines that the activities that counties must perform to carry out this program are either one-time in nature or were already required by existing law.  

Next Steps: Counties and other interested parties can file rebuttal comments to the Departments of Finance’s comment letter on or before July 22, 2026. (California Code of Regulations § 1183.3. Rebuttal.).  

The Commission tentatively plans to hear this matter during their hearing on February 12, 2027. Eight weeks before the hearing, the Commission staff will publish the draft proposed decision on this matter for the Commissioners, the claimant, and interested parties to consider. 

About the program: In December 2025, Sonoma County filed a test claim for reimbursement with the Commission on State Mandates for the costs for counties to comply with AB 1638 (Chapter 587, Statutes of 2023).   

AB 1638 requires local agencies to do the following:  

• By January 1, 2025, local agencies were required to use data from the American Community Survey or data from an equally reliable source to determine which languages within their jurisdiction are spoken jointly by 5% or more of the population that speaks English less than “very well.”  
• In the event of an emergency, a local agency must provide information related to the emergency in English and in all languages spoken jointly by 5% or more of the population that speaks English less than “very well.”  
• Local agencies must reassess the language data every five years.   
• Local agencies must ensure that the quality of the information in translated languages has parity with information provided in English for comprehension, action, and timeliness.    

CSAC COMMENTS 

CARE Act County Legal Counsel, 25-TC-02 (View Matter)   

Recent developments: This week, the claimants in this matter and  CSAC filed comment letters in response to a letter from the Department of Finance to the Commission providing their assessment of the merits of this test claim for reimbursement.  

Next Steps: The Commission tentatively plans to hear this matter during their hearing on February 12, 2027. Eight weeks before the hearing, the Commission staff will publish the draft proposed decision on this matter for the Commissioners, the claimant, and interested parties to consider. 

About the program: The Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Act (also referred to as “CARE Court”) establishes a process by which public entities or private individuals can petition a civil court to order county-provided mental health treatment for individuals living with specified psychotic disorders. Amongst other things, the test claim for reimbursement argues that county counsels are mandated to participate in extensive court proceedings and provide counsel to County Behavioral Health Agencies that develop and carry out CARE Act agreements and plans, and that these expenses are eligible for reimbursement from the state. 

NEW CLAIMING INSTRUCTIONS – Be on the lookout!  

As reported last week, the Commission recently adopted the Parameters and Guidelines for two new state-mandated programs (Child Physical Abuse and Neglect Exams, 24-TC-05 and Stops: Notification by Peace Officers, 24-TC-03).  

After the Commission adopts Parameters and Guidelines for a new state-mandated local program, the SCO must issue Claiming Instructions for the program within 90 days (Government Code Section 17558).  

The Claiming Instructions are posted on the SCO’s website. After the Claiming Instructions are finalized and posted, local agencies have 120 days to file claims during the Initial Reimbursement Process.  

Questions or comments about Claiming Instructions or the Initial Reimbursement Process can be submitted to the SCO by emailing LRSLGPSD@sco.ca.gov.  

Definitions of terms: 

• Parameters and Guidelines: The parameters and guidelines identify reimbursable activities and provide that claimants (local agencies) are allowed to claim and be reimbursed only for increased costs related to the reimbursable activities identified. 
• Claiming Instructions: Local agencies follow the claiming instructions to file claims for reimbursement with the SCO.  
• Initial Reimbursement Process: When the SCO publishes the claiming instructions for a new state-mandated program, counties must submit claims for costs incurred during the “initial fiscal years” to the SCO within 120 days (Government Code Section 17561). The “initial reimbursement claim process” is for costs to be reimbursed for the fiscal years specified in the claiming instructions and the program’s Parameters and Guidelines; typically past years wherein counties were funding these programs while waiting for a ruling from the Commission on whether the program’s activities qualify for reimbursement from the state.