Senate BillFailedWelfare and Institutions
SB 823: Mental health: the CARE Act.
What SB 823 does, verified February 3, 2026
The bill aims to amend the existing Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (Care) Act to include individuals with bipolar I disorder in the criteria for receiving services under the act. This would expand the types of severe mental illnesses eligible for care. The bill would increase the duties on county behavioral health agencies, imposing a state-mandated local program. The state would be required to reimburse local agencies and school districts for costs mandated by the state if the commission determines that the bill contains such costs.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
2In CommitteeCurrent
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. (2026-02-02)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions12 total · showing 5
| Feb. 02, 2026 | Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| May. 23, 2025 | May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. |
| May. 16, 2025 | Set for hearing May 23. |
| Apr. 28, 2025 | April 28 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr. 17, 2025 | Set for hearing April 28. |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, February 21, 2025 · 564 words
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 823
| Introduced by Senator Stern |
February 21, 2025 |
An act to amend Section 5972 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to mental health.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 823, as introduced, Stern. Mental health: the CARE Act.
Existing law, the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act, authorizes specified adult persons to petition a civil court to create a voluntary CARE agreement or a court-ordered CARE plan and implement services, to be provided by county behavioral health agencies, to provide behavioral health care, including stabilization medication, housing, and other enumerated services, to adults who are currently experiencing a severe mental illness and have a diagnosis identified in the disorder class schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, and who meet other specified criteria.
This bill would include bipolar I disorder in the criteria for a person to receive services under the CARE Act. By increasing the duties on the county behavioral health agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 5972 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:5972.
An individual shall qualify for the CARE process only if all of the following criteria are met:(a) The person is 18 years of age or older.
(b) (1) The person is currently experiencing a serious mental disorder, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 5600.3 5600.3, and has a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder or a diagnosis identified in the disorder class: schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, as defined in the most current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This
(2) This
section does not establish respondent eligibility based upon a psychotic disorder that is due to a medical condition or is not primarily psychiatric in nature, including, but not limited to, physical health conditions such as traumatic brain injury, autism, dementia, or neurologic conditions.(3) A
person who has a current diagnosis of substance use disorder as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1374.72 of the Health and Safety Code but who does not also meet the required criteria in this section(c) The person is not clinically stabilized in on-going voluntary treatment.
(d) At least one of the following is true:
(1) The person is unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision and the person’s condition is substantially deteriorating.
(2) The person is in need of services and supports in order to prevent a relapse or deterioration that would be likely to result in grave disability or serious harm to the person or others, as used in Section 5150.
(e) Participation in a CARE plan or CARE agreement would be the least restrictive alternative necessary to ensure the person’s recovery and stability.
(f) It is likely that the person will benefit from participation in a CARE plan or CARE agreement.
Text of SB 823 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions