SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senator Steven Choi, Ph.D. (R-Irvine), announced that Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1242 into law. The measure strengthens family input in CARE Court while preserving patient privacy.
“Families often know their loved one’s treatment history, struggles, and needs better than anyone,” said Senator Choi. “SB 1242 ensures this important information can help guide care while protecting the rights and privacy of the person receiving treatment. I thank the Governor for signing this commonsense measure.”
SB 1242 allows family members who initiated CARE Court proceedings to share information about their loved one’s condition, treatment history, housing, safety, and care needs without requiring the individual’s consent. CARE teams must review and document relevant information.
"Families are often the first to recognize when a loved one is struggling and may have critical information about changes in behavior, treatment history, and safety concerns that may not otherwise be known to the CARE team," said Suzanne A. Fidler, M.D., J.D., a delegate to the Conference of California Bar Associations (CCBA). “SB 1242 helps close an important gap in the CARE Court process by ensuring that original petitioners have a meaningful way to provide relevant information to the CARE team, while preserving the respondent's privacy and rights. I am deeply grateful to Senator Choi for listening to families, recognizing the importance of their firsthand knowledge, and championing this legislation through to enactment."
The law maintains existing confidentiality protections and does not allow family members to direct treatment or access confidential medical records.
SB 1242 was sponsored by the Conference of California Bar Associations and supported by NAMI California, the Treatment Advocacy Center, and the California State Association of Psychiatrists.