LOS ANGELES — Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 27, aimed at expanding California's Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Court system, a program designed to get people with severe mental illness into treatment and housing before they end up on the streets or in jail.

The legislation, authored by Sen. Thomas Umberg, expands eligibility for CARE, improves court coordination, and ensures quicker intervention by county health agencies and courts.

“California doesn’t sit on the sidelines while people fall through the cracks," Newsom said. "We don’t stand by while people spiral on our sidewalks or cycle through emergency rooms and jail cells — we step up. We built CARE Court to connect people to treatment, dignity, and accountability — because care and accountability belong at the center of how we serve our communities.”

“SB 27 is critical for the effective expansion and implementation of CARE Court in California,” said Senator Umberg. “With this legislation, more Californians will finally receive the assistance they need to reintegrate into society fully. SB 27 provides a balanced and compassionate path forward—far preferable to the extremes we’ve seen elsewhere, whether it’s sweeping executive orders on civil commitments or doing nothing at all and allowing people to die on our streets. The beauty of CARE Court is that it holds both institutions and individuals accountable, ensures individuals get the care they need and gives judges a clear role in overseeing and guiding the process. This bill focuses on implementation by listening to and learning from counties about what’s working and what’s not, to meet the goals of the original CARE Court legislation.”

Read more here: ABC 7