LOS ANGELES: Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 27 by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana), a critical enhancement to California’s Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act, to connect more Californians living with severe mental illness to treatment, housing, and recovery services — before they fall deeper into crisis.

“California doesn’t sit on the sidelines while people fall through the cracks. 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.” - Governor Gavin Newsom

“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 fully reintegrate into society. 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, in order to meet the goals of the original CARE Court legislation.”

The CARE Act, first launched in 2023 to provide new court-supervised pathways into behavioral health care, has already transformed how California approaches serious mental illnesses. CARE Court — underway in 58 counties statewide — is a first-in-the-nation approach to empower individuals suffering from untreated or undertreated schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders to get the treatment and housing they need to recover and thrive. SB 27 enhances the framework by expanding eligibility for CARE, improving court coordination, and ensuring county health agencies and courts can intervene more quickly when someone’s mental health deteriorates.

SB 27 updates California’s behavioral health framework to improve early intervention, streamline court processes, and bring compassion and accountability into balance for individuals facing severe mental illness. 
 

Providing a stable pathway out of the justice system 

SB 27 ensures closer coordination between criminal courts and behavioral health systems by requiring judges to consider CARE as a frontline option for misdemeanor defendants with serious mental illness. Many of these individuals cycle through the criminal justice system for years, as, once they exit jail-based treatment, they lack reliable access to mental health care, stable housing, and other necessary supportive services. CARE can provide them with an enduring path to stability, making it much less likely that they reoffend — a far better outcome for them, their loved ones, and the public at large.

Expanding access to CARE

The legislation broadens eligibility under the CARE Act to include individuals who suffer from bipolar I disorder with psychotic features, ensuring that more Californians facing serious mental health challenges are able to access licensed professionals–such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants–together with the other supportive services available through CARE.

By refining the CARE framework, SB 27 makes it easier for courts and local agencies to connect people with treatment before they fall through the cracks. The bill reaffirms California’s commitment to addressing mental illness through compassion, accountability, and access – giving individuals a path to recovery rather than incarceration.

SB 27 continues California’s effort to build a modern, coordinated system of behavioral healthcare — one that responds quickly, treats people with dignity, and delivers lasting outcomes for communities across the state.
 

Read more here: Governor Newsom News