At its January 20 business meeting, the Judicial Council agreed
to allocate state
funding designated to help courts implement the Community
Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act. The act
allows specified adults to petition a civil court to create a
voluntary CARE agreement or a court-ordered CARE plan, which
includes treatment, housing support, and other services for
persons with untreated schizophrenia and other psychotic
disorders.
Seven superior courts—Glenn, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, San
Francisco, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne—will receive a share of
$2,828,000 as the first cohort of courts that will launch CARE
Act programs by October 2023. In addition to these seven courts,
the Superior Court of Los Angeles County plans to work with its
county partners to implement the act by December 1, 2023. While
the council allocated the CARE Act funding it has also posted
an invitation to
comment open until January 27, on new court rules and
forms to help implement the act. The invitation to comment
contains the proposed rules and forms, as well as background
information on the act itself and the courts’ role in the
process.
Other items on the January 20 council meeting agenda
included:
Funding For Firearm Relinquishment Programs: Per
Assembly Bill 178, the council approved grants
to seven trial courts to help ensure the consistent and
safe removal of firearms from individuals prohibited from owning
or possessing firearms and ammunition under court order. The
superior courts receiving grants are Los Angeles, Modoc, San
Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Ventura.
Legislative Priorities: The council approved
the types
of legislation it will support to increase access to
justice for court users, promote sufficient resources to improve
remote access, adequate judgeships and judicial officers in
counties with the greatest need, availability of verbatim records
of court proceedings, and operational efficiencies in the
courts.
