Bill > AB1205

This bill makes technical, nonsubstantive changes to Laura's Law, which allows counties to provide assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) for individuals with mental illness. Under the existing law, counties can petition a court to order a person 18 or older with a mental illness to receive treatment if they have a history of treatment non-compliance and meet specific criteria demonstrating their need for supervision. The bill makes minor linguistic modifications to the existing law, such as replacing "prior to" with "before" in several instances. The law allows for court-ordered treatment plans lasting up to six months, with the possibility of extension for an additional 180 days. The person subject to the AOT order has numerous legal protections, including the right to counsel, the ability to present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and petition for habeas corpus if they believe they are being wrongfully retained in the treatment program. The primary goal of the bill appears to be clarifying and maintaining the existing legal framework for assisted outpatient treatment, with no substantive changes to the underlying policy.

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1205