SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom's sweeping proposal to provide court-ordered treatment for homeless Californians struggling with mental illness and addiction passed the Legislature on Wednesday after lengthy debate that ended in overwhelming approval of the plan.
Newsom unveiled the Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Court framework in March as an innovative tool to treat and house thousands of people who have some combination of homelessness, substance use and severe mental illness.
"Today's passage of the CARE Act means hope for thousands of Californians suffering from severe forms of mental illness who too often languish on our streets without the treatment they desperately need and deserve," Newsom said in a statement after the final vote on SB 1338. "With our partners, we'll make CARE Court a reality, giving hope to not just those suffering with severe, untreated mental illnesses with psychosis, but also offering a lifeline to the friends and family members of these individuals who for too long have felt hopeless in getting help for their loved ones."
