Bill Text: CA AB1946 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Mental health services: involuntary detention.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-05-05 - Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH. [AB1946 Detail]
Download: California-2019-AB1946-Amended.html
|
Amended
IN
Assembly
May 04, 2020 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1946
| Introduced by Assembly Members Santiago and Friedman |
January 17, 2020 |
An act to amend Section 5008 of, and to add Sections 5014 and 5015 to, the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to mental health.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1946, as amended, Santiago.
Mental health services: involuntary detention.
Existing law, the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, authorizes the involuntary commitment and treatment of persons with specified mental health disorders for the protection of the persons so committed. Under the act, if a person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is a danger to others, or to themselves, or is gravely disabled, the person may, upon probable cause, be taken into custody by a peace officer, a member of the attending staff of an evaluation facility, designated members of a mobile crisis team, or another designated professional person, and placed in a facility designated by the county and approved by the State Department of Social Services as a facility for 72-hour treatment and evaluation. The act further authorizes a person who has been detained for 72 hours to be certified for not more
than 14 days of intensive treatment related to the mental health disorder under specified conditions, and also authorizes a conservator of the person, of the estate, or of both, to be appointed for a person who is gravely disabled as a result of a mental health disorder. For these purposes, existing law defines “gravely disabled” to mean either a condition in which a person, as a result of a mental health disorder or chronic alcoholism, is unable to provide for the person’s basic personal needs for food, clothing, or shelter, or a condition in which a person has been found mentally incompetent, as specified.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to reform the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, including expanding the definition of “gravely disabled” to add a condition in which a person is unable to provide for their own medical treatment as a result of a mental health disorder, and emphasizing the necessity to create policies that prioritize living safely in communities.
This bill would expand the definition of “gravely disabled” for these purposes to also include a condition in which a person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is unable to provide for their basic personal needs for medical treatment, if the failure to receive medical treatment, as defined, would likely result in serious bodily harm or death, as attested in writing by a medical professional in their best medical judgment. The bill would, on or before January 1, 2025, require each county to submit a report to the Legislature evaluating the impact of the county’s implementation of the above-mentioned provisions of the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act between January 1, 2021, and June 30, 2024, inclusive, with the expanded definition of “gravely disabled.”
Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), an initiative
measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, establishes the continuously appropriated Mental Health Services Fund to fund various county mental health programs.
This bill, to the extent permitted under state and federal law and consistent with the Mental Health Services Act and for the purposes of the above-mentioned provisions of the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, would clarify that counties may pay for the services authorized in those provisions using funds from the Mental Health Services Fund when included in county plans, as specified, and would also authorize counties to pay for those services with specified funds from the Local Revenue Fund and the Local Revenue Fund 2011. The bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services to, on or before July 1, 2021, issue guidance specifying which services authorized under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act may be paid by counties with funds from the Mental
Health Services Fund.
By expanding the above definition of “gravely disabled” and imposing new duties on counties, the bill would increase the duties on local agencies, and would therefore impose a state-mandated local program.
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.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee:Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 5008 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:5008.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall govern the construction of this part:(a) “Evaluation” consists of multidisciplinary professional analyses of a person’s medical, psychological, educational, social, financial, and legal conditions as may appear to constitute a problem. Persons providing evaluation services shall be properly qualified professionals and may be full-time employees of an agency providing face-to-face, which includes telehealth, evaluation services or may be part-time employees or may be employed on a contractual basis.
(b) “Court-ordered evaluation” means an evaluation ordered by a superior court pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 5200) or by a superior court
pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 5225) of Chapter 2.
(c) “Intensive treatment” consists of such hospital and other services as may be indicated. Intensive treatment shall be provided by properly qualified professionals and carried out in facilities qualifying for reimbursement under the California Medical Assistance Program (Medi-Cal) set forth in Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) of Part 3 of Division 9, or under Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act and regulations thereunder. Intensive treatment may be provided in hospitals of the United States government by properly qualified professionals. This part does not prohibit an intensive treatment facility from also providing 72-hour evaluation and treatment.
(d) “Referral” is referral of persons by each agency or
facility providing assessment, evaluation, crisis intervention, or treatment services to other agencies or individuals. The purpose of referral shall be to provide for continuity of care, and may include, but need not be limited to, informing the person of available services, making appointments on the person’s behalf, discussing the person’s problem with the agency or individual to which the person has been referred, appraising the outcome of referrals, and arranging for personal escort and transportation when necessary. Referral shall be considered complete when the agency or individual to whom the person has been referred accepts responsibility for providing the necessary services. All persons shall be advised of available precare services that prevent initial recourse to hospital treatment or aftercare services that support adjustment to community living following hospital treatment. These services may be provided through county or city mental health departments, state hospitals under the jurisdiction of
the State Department of State Hospitals, regional centers under contract with the State Department of Developmental Services, or other public or private entities.
Each agency or facility providing evaluation services shall maintain a current and comprehensive file of all community services, both public and private. These files shall contain current agreements with agencies or individuals accepting referrals, as well as appraisals of the results of past referrals.
(e) “Crisis intervention” consists of an interview or series of interviews within a brief period of time, conducted by qualified professionals, and designed to alleviate personal or family situations which present a serious and imminent threat to the health or stability of the person or the family. The interview or interviews may be conducted in the home of the person or family, or on an inpatient or outpatient basis with such therapy, or
other services, as may be appropriate. The interview or interviews may include family members, significant support persons, providers, or other entities or individuals, as appropriate and as authorized by law. Crisis intervention may, as appropriate, include suicide prevention, psychiatric, welfare, psychological, legal, or other social services.
(f) “Prepetition screening” is a screening of all petitions for court-ordered evaluation as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 5200) of Chapter 2, consisting of a professional review of all petitions; an interview with the petitioner and, whenever possible, the person alleged, as a result of a mental health disorder, to be a danger to others, or to himself or herself, themselves, or to be gravely
disabled, to assess the problem and explain the petition; when indicated, efforts to persuade the person to receive, on a voluntary basis, comprehensive evaluation, crisis intervention, referral, and other services specified in this part.
(g) “Conservatorship investigation” means investigation by an agency appointed or designated by the governing body of cases in which conservatorship is recommended pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5350).
(h) (1) For purposes of Article 1 (commencing with Section 5150), Article 2 (commencing with Section 5200), and Article 4 (commencing with Section 5250) of Chapter 2, and for the purposes of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5350), “gravely disabled” means either of the following:
(A) A condition in which a person, as a result of a mental health
disorder, is unable to provide for his or her their basic personal needs for food, clothing, or shelter.
shelter, or medical treatment, if the failure to receive medical treatment would likely result in serious bodily harm or death, as attested to in writing by a medical professional in the medical professional’s best medical judgment. For purposes of this subdivision, “medical treatment” means the administration or application of remedies for a mental health condition, as identified by a licensed mental health professional, or a physical health condition, as identified by a licensed medical professional. Any person considered gravely disabled pursuant to this subdivision shall have the right to refuse medical treatment subject to the provisions set forth in this part.
(B) A condition in which a person, has been found mentally incompetent under Section 1370 of the Penal Code and all of the following facts exist:
(i) The complaint,
indictment, or information pending against the person at the time of commitment charges a felony involving death, great bodily harm, or a serious threat to the physical well-being of another person.
(ii) There has been a finding of probable cause on a complaint pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1368.1 of the Penal Code, a preliminary examination pursuant to Section 859b of the Penal Code, or a grand jury indictment, and the complaint, indictment, or information has not been dismissed.
(iii) As a result of a mental health disorder, the person is unable to understand the nature and purpose of the proceedings taken against him or her them and to assist counsel in the
conduct of his or her
the person’s defense in a rational manner.
(iv) The person represents a substantial danger of physical harm to others by reason of a mental disease, defect, or disorder.
(2) For purposes of Article 3 (commencing with Section 5225) and Article 4 (commencing with Section 5250), of Chapter 2, and for the purposes of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5350), “gravely disabled” means a condition in which a person, as a result of impairment by chronic alcoholism, is unable to provide for his or her their basic personal needs for food, clothing, or shelter.
(3) The term “gravely disabled” does
not include persons with intellectual disabilities by reason of that disability alone.
(i) “Peace officer” means a duly sworn peace officer as that term is defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code who has completed the basic training course established by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, or any parole officer or probation officer specified in Section 830.5 of the Penal Code when acting in relation to cases for which he or she the person has a legally mandated responsibility.
(j) “Postcertification treatment” means an additional period of treatment pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 5300) of Chapter 2.
(k) “Court,” unless otherwise specified, means a court of record.
(l) “Antipsychotic medication” means any medication customarily prescribed for the treatment of symptoms of psychoses and other severe mental and emotional disorders.
(m) “Emergency” means a situation in which action to impose treatment over the person’s objection is immediately necessary for the preservation of life or the prevention of serious bodily harm to the patient or others, and it is impracticable to first gain consent. It is not necessary for harm to take place or become unavoidable prior to treatment.
(n) “Designated facility” or “facility designated by the county for evaluation and treatment” means a facility that is licensed or certified as a mental health treatment
facility or a hospital, as defined in subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 1250 of the Health and Safety Code, by the State Department of Public Health, and may include, but is not limited to, a licensed psychiatric hospital, a licensed psychiatric health facility, and a certified crisis stabilization unit.
SEC. 2.
Section 5014 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:5014.
(a) To the extent otherwise permitted under state and federal law and consistent with the Mental Health Services Act, all of the following shall apply for purposes of Article 1 (commencing with Section 5150) and Article 4 (commencing with Section 5250) of Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5350):(1) Counties may pay for the provision of services using funds distributed to the counties from the Mental Health Subaccount, the Mental Health Equity Subaccount, and the Vehicle License Collection Account of the Local Revenue Fund, funds from the Mental Health Account and the Behavioral Health Subaccount within the Support Services Account of the Local Revenue Fund 2011, funds from the Mental Health Services Fund when included in county
plans pursuant to Section 5847, and any other funds from which the Controller makes distributions to the counties for those purposes.
(2) A person shall not be denied access to services funded by the Mental Health Services Fund based solely on the person’s voluntary or involuntary legal status.
(3) Counties shall not use funds from the Mental Health Services Fund to pay for more than one cumulative year of acute or subacute care services provided to a person under a conservatorship established pursuant to Section 5350 for each established conservatorship, including any succeeding periods of conservatorship.
(b) On or before July 1, 2021, the State Department of Health Care Services shall issue guidance specifying which services authorized under Article 1 (commencing with Section 5150) and Article 4 (commencing with
Section 5250) of Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5350) may be paid by counties with funds from the Mental Health Services Fund.
SEC. 3.
Section 5015 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:5015.
(a) On or before January 1, 2025, each county shall submit a report to the Legislature evaluating the impact of the county’s implementation of Article 1 (commencing with Section 5150), Article 2 (commencing with Section 5200), and Article 4 (commencing with Section 5250) of Chapter 2, and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5350) between January 1, 2021, and June 30, 2024, inclusive, with the inclusion in the definition of “gravely disabled,” of a condition in which a person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is unable to provide for their basic personal needs for medical treatment, as specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) of Section 5008. The report shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following information:(1) The number of individuals detained pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 5150), Article 2 (commencing with Section 5200), and Article 4 (commencing with Section 5250) of Chapter 2 because they had a condition in which the individual, as a result of a mental health disorder, is unable to provide for their basic personal needs for medical treatment, as specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) of Section 5008.
(2) The number of conservatorships approved pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5350) for individuals with a condition in which the individual, as a result of a mental health disorder, is unable to provide for their basic personal needs for medical treatment, as specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) of Section 5008.
(3) Whether the county expanded assisted outpatient treatment services
provided pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 5345) of Chapter 2 between January 1, 2021, and June 30, 2024, inclusive.
(b) A report submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
SEC. 4.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to reform the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, including expanding the definition of “gravely disabled” to add a condition in which a person is unable to provide for their own medical treatment as a result of a mental health disorder, and emphasizing the necessity to create policies that prioritize living safely in communities.
