A California disability rights group is asking the state's Supreme Court to block the enforcement of the CARE Act, a sweeping piece of legislation signed into law by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom last fall. The law, which aims to tackle the state's homelessness crisis, creates "CARE Courts," which enable the state to force severely mentally ill people into court-ordered treatment and housing programs. However, disability rights groups have consistently opposed the measure, arguing that it risks being abused to trap mentally ill people under state control.
"The CARE Act was an attempt to respond to two crises—a shortage of affordable, accessible housing and mental health care—that force many into last-resort living situations," the petition argues. "Singling out people with schizophrenia and forcing them into involuntary outpatient treatment, multiple court hearings, compelled assessments and other statutory penalties is not an appropriate response."
