Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act

SB 1338 (Chapter 319, Statutes of 2022), the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act, establishes a new statewide program that creates a civil court process to deliver mental health and substance use disorder services to the most severely impaired individuals in our communities. The CARE Act includes a statutory commitment that the Act’s operation is contingent upon consultation with county stakeholders and the development of an allocation to provide state financial assistance to counties to implement the CARE Act process. CSAC will continue to advocate to secure adequate, flexible, and sustained funding across all impacted local agencies to support counties’ efforts in this new statewide program. Additionally, CSAC will advocate for any necessary program changes and needed technical assistance related to implementation that was extended statewide as of December 1, 2024.

The Governor announced his proposal for a new civil court called Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court on March 3. This new court would engage individuals living with psychotic disorders into treatment under the court’s jurisdiction and includes the provision of a public defender and supporter to guide voluntary participants through the process. Senators Thomas Umberg and Susan Eggman have incorporated the Governor’s proposal into SB 1338. Counties are supportive of the effort to provide assistance to those who need it, but share multiple concerns, including process, implementation, and funding, with SB 1338 as amended. 

CSAC MEDIA STATEMENT

• CSAC Statement on CARE Court Budget and Policy Legislation

CSAC Board Updates

• CARE Court Start-up Fiscal Allocations Update
• CARE Act $31M Allocation Schedule
• Guidance Issued on General Uses of CARE Court Start-Up Funding
• General Uses of the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act Startup Funding via Behavioral Health Information
• Invitation to Comment: CARE Act Rules and Forms
  • Rules and Forms – CARE Act W23-10

CSAC Letters and Calls to Action 

• SB 1338 Funding Call to Action August 19
• SB 1338 Joint Concerns to Appropriations Cmte on Costs July 13
• SB 1338 Joint Concerns Letter June 14
• Letter Regarding Concerns for May Revision Proposal for CARE Act Funding

County CARE Court Resources

• SB 1388 (Umberg and Eggman)
• Sample County Concerns Letter
• County Amendments to SB 1338
• Summary of County Amendments

Additional CARE Resources: 

• CalHHS CARE Act Webpage 
• CARE Act Resource Center 
• DHCS CARE Act Webpage