Committee urges state to pass SB 43 and SB 363 to update conservatorship and bed data

The committee voted May 25 to forward a resolution urging the state legislature to pass SB 43 and SB 363, bills authored by Senator Susan Eggman. Sponsor staff said the bills would update the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act and Chapter 2 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code to expand the definition of gravely disabled and require the state Department of Health Care Services to develop a real-time statewide dashboard of bed availability for specified facility types.

Jackie Thornhill, legislative aide, said the bills and a related local resolution were drafted after prior Board work to modernize the behavioral-health continuum; the sponsor framed SB 43 and SB 363 as incremental but important reforms to help people who repeatedly decline voluntary treatment and to give the state tools to track placement capacity. No public comment was recorded on the matter.

Chair moved to amend as presented and to forward the resolution to the full Board with a positive recommendation; the committee approved the motion unanimously. The item will be considered by the Board on June 6, 2023.