AB 416: Involuntary commitment.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law, the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, authorizes the involuntary commitment and treatment of persons with specified mental disorders. Under the act, when a person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is a danger to self or others, or gravely disabled, the person may, upon probable cause, be taken into custody by specified individuals, including, among others, by a peace officer, a designated member of a mobile crisis team, or a professional person designated by the county, and placed in a facility designated by the county and approved by the State Department of Health Care Services for up to 72 hours for evaluation and treatment. Existing law authorizes county behavioral health director to develop procedures for the county’s designation and training of professionals who will be designated to perform the above-described provisions. Existing law authorizes the procedures to include, among others, the license types, practice disciplines, and clinical experience of the professionals eligible to be designated by the county. Existing law exempts specified individuals, including a peace officer responsible for the detainment of a person under these provisions from criminal and civil liability for an action by a person who is released at or before the end of the period for which they were detained.

This bill would require a county behavioral health director to include an emergency physician, as defined, as one of the practice disciplines eligible to be designated by the county when developing and implementing procedures for the designation and training of those professionals. The bill would also exempt an emergency physician who is responsible for the detainment of a person under those provisions from criminal and civil liability, as specified.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. October 13, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 691, Statutes of 2025.
2. October 13, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. September 11, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
4. September 4, 2025Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 75. Noes 0. Page 2930.).
5. September 4, 2025In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. September 3, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2453.).
7. August 29, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. August 29, 2025From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).
9. August 18, 2025In committee: Referred to suspense file.
10. July 17, 2025Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
11. July 16, 2025From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (July 15).
12. July 3, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.