California revises CARE petition and petitioner communication pathways

What happened

California enacted SB 989 as Chapter 667. In addition to filing directly, a qualifying first responder who believes an individual meets or likely meets CARE criteria may ask the county behavioral health agency where the individual resides or is found to file. The request includes identifying and contact information if available and other required information. The agency must complete review and decide whether to petition within 30 business days, then notify the referring responder of the outcome and whether criteria were met. DHCS must develop a referral form and procedural guidance and include request data in annual reporting; a referral does not itself establish eligibility.

SB 1242, Chapter 687, addresses information from original petitioners in the specified resident/family categories after the county becomes successor petitioner. Subject to applicable confidentiality laws, those petitioners may supply relevant condition, treatment, housing, safety, service-engagement, and plan information; the CARE team must receive, review, and document relevant submissions without requiring respondent consent to receive them. Courts may consider the information for the stated care-process purposes. Submission does not create party status or rights to direct treatment, obtain discovery, receive protected information, inspect confidential records, or attend confidential proceedings. Existing consent and expressly authorized participation boundaries remain.

Why it matters

County and clinical teams need defined referral and confidentiality boundaries.

Sources

• SB989 enacted final textOfficial · California Legislature · 2026-09-27 · Source review 2026-10-11
• SB1242 enacted final textOfficial · California Legislature · 2026-09-27 · Source review 2026-10-11
• California Constitution, Article IV section 8(c), official Assembly 2023–24 editionOfficial · California State Assembly · Source review 2026-10-14