CARE Act 101 and the CARE Court Process

The MCLE presentation for this month’s meeting will be provided by Tahmina Morrow, Deputy County Counsel for Yuba County. In an effort to address significant issues of mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness, the California legislature recently passed the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (“CARE”) Act, which was signed into law by the governor on September 14, 2022.   This Act has faced opposition from numerous civil rights groups, including a lawsuit by Disability Rights California challenging the constitutionality of the Act.  As it stands, seven pilot counties – including Glenn County — will be establishing new CARE courts by October 1, 2023, with the remaining counties to follow by December 2024.