All Roll Calls
Yes: 210 • No: 0
CaliforniaSB 272025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court Program.
Sponsored By: Thomas Umberg (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.
Faster treatment paths instead of jail
After a court finds someone incompetent, the law speeds paths to treatment. Courts must hold diversion hearings within 30 days and can grant mental health diversion for up to one year. Criminal courts can refer people to CARE court with a hearing in 30 court days, or to assisted outpatient treatment with a hearing in 45 days. If hearings run late, the person is released on their own recognizance. If accepted into CARE or AOT, charges are dismissed six months after referral unless the case returns to criminal court sooner. If diversion is not suitable, the court must pick from set options, which can include a conservatorship investigation when a qualified expert finds grave disability.
Guardrails on court conservatorship referrals
A court may send someone for a conservatorship investigation only if a qualified expert says the person appears gravely disabled. The public guardian must check less restrictive options first. If no conservatorship petition is filed within 30 days, a jailed person must be released on recognizance. If a temporary or permanent conservatorship petition is filed, criminal charges are dismissed 90 days after filing unless the person returns to criminal court earlier.
Hearings, rights, and care plan orders
At the first hearing, the respondent can change lawyers. The petitioner must attend or the case can be dismissed. A county behavioral health representative must attend, and tribal reps may attend. The court holds a merits hearing within 10 days and decides by clear and convincing evidence. If CARE criteria are met, the court orders a case plan process and sets quick follow‑ups, including a clinical evaluation (if needed), a 14‑day case management hearing, and 60‑day progress checks. The court can order services and supports within available funding, and can order stabilization meds only if the person lacks capacity. Medications are not given by force, and not taking them does not bring penalties. A CARE plan can last up to one year.
Custody time speeds treatment timeline
Time in jail counts extra toward required treatment time. Every 2 days in custody count as 4 days of credit. Days in treatment while not in custody count day for day. This can shorten how long someone must stay in court-ordered treatment.
Who qualifies and how CARE starts
Adults 18+ can qualify for CARE if they have a listed serious mental disorder, are not clinically stabilized in voluntary care, meet safety or deterioration rules, and CARE is the least restrictive option likely to help. Filing must use one standard petition form, signed under penalty of perjury, with a recent clinician affidavit or proof of two recent detentions. The court quickly screens petitions and can dismiss weak ones. If the county behavioral health director files, the court holds a hearing in 14 court days and appoints counsel. If someone else files, the county must investigate and report within 30 court days.
Counties can seek state reimbursement
If state officials find this law creates state‑mandated costs, counties and school districts get paid back under existing reimbursement rules. This protects local budgets when the state requires new work.
Privacy rules and public CARE data
County clinical reports filed in CARE cases are confidential. They are not public records and usually cannot be used in later cases unless the respondent asks. County behavioral health and jail medical staff can share records with the court to check CARE eligibility, but only under state and federal privacy laws. Starting in 2026, the state publishes a yearly, deidentified, county‑level CARE report that tracks referrals, services, demographics, housing, health use, and outcomes, with a health equity review.
When competence returns, cases resume
If a person once found incompetent is later found competent, the criminal case restarts. The trial or violation hearing proceeds under normal rules.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Thomas Umberg
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 9/12/2025
Item 102 — Senate SFLOOR
Yes: 38 • No: 0
House vote • 9/11/2025
Item 99 — Assembly AFLOOR
Yes: 74 • No: 0
legislature vote • 8/29/2025
Vote in CX25
Yes: 11 • No: 0
legislature vote • 7/15/2025
Vote in CX18
Yes: 9 • No: 0
legislature vote • 7/8/2025
Vote in CX08
Yes: 16 • No: 0
legislature vote • 7/1/2025
Vote in CX13
Yes: 11 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/27/2025
Item 146 — Senate SFLOOR
Yes: 39 • No: 0
legislature vote • 4/8/2025
Vote in CS53
Yes: 12 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 528, Statutes of 2025.
10/10/2025SenateApproved by the Governor.
10/10/2025legislatureEnrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
9/23/2025legislatureAssembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 2989.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
9/12/2025SenateIn Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
9/12/2025SenateRead third time. Passed. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 3339.) Ordered to the Senate.
9/11/2025HouseRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
9/3/2025HouseRead second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9/2/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 29).
8/29/2025HouseAugust 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
8/20/2025HouseRead second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
7/17/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (July 15).
7/16/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (July 8). Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
7/9/2025HouseFrom committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
7/2/2025HouseFrom committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
6/17/2025HouseJune 17 hearing postponed by committee.
6/11/2025HouseReferred to Com. on JUD.
6/5/2025HouseIn Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
5/28/2025HouseRead third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 1237.) Ordered to the Assembly.
5/27/2025SenateRead second time. Ordered to third reading.
4/10/2025SenateFrom committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 0. Page 704.) (April 8).
4/9/2025SenateSet for hearing April 8.
4/1/2025SenateReferred to Com. on JUD.
1/29/2025SenateFrom printer. May be acted upon on or after January 2.
12/3/2024SenateIntroduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
12/2/2024Senate
Bill Text
Chaptered
10/10/2025
Enrolled
9/17/2025
Amended Assembly
9/2/2025
Amended Assembly
7/17/2025
Amended Assembly
6/17/2025
Introduced
12/2/2024