SB 16: Mental health: 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, provides for the involuntary detention and treatment of persons with specified mental health disorders. Under the act, when a person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is a danger to others, or to themselves, or gravely disabled, the person may, upon probable cause, be taken into custody 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 a 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.

This bill would instead require a county behavioral health director to establish and implement procedures governing the county’s designation and training of professionals who will be designated to perform the above-described provisions. By imposing additional duties on county behavioral health directors, the bill would create 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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1 · Republican 1

“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. September 18, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 314, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 18, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. September 9, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
4. August 31, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 30. Noes 1.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. August 31, 2026Unanimous consent granted to take up without reference to file.
6. August 31, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
7. August 31, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 7058.) Ordered to the Senate.
8. August 28, 2026Ordered to third reading.
9. August 28, 2026Read third time and amended.
10. August 27, 2026Joint Rule 61(b)(16) suspended. (Ayes 58. Noes 1. Page 6727.)
11. August 17, 2026Ordered to third reading.
12. August 17, 2026Read third time and amended.