Mayor Gloria Issues Statement on Governor’s Letter to Counties on SB 43

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2024

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SAN DIEGO - Mayor Todd Gloria issued the following statement in response to Gov. Gavin Newsom's letter to California counties, expressing disappointment in them for delaying the implementation of Senate Bill 43 and urging them to act now:

"I sponsored SB 43 and lobbied aggressively to pass and implement it because California cannot continue to ignore people with severe mental illness, especially those living on our streets," Mayor Todd Gloria said. "The delays by counties across the state to implement this powerful tool for change are unacceptable and are costing people their lives. The Governor's message is clear: The time for counties to act is now - and I could not agree more."

Passed and signed into law last year, SB 43 modernized California's mental-health conservatorship laws in an effort to get people suffering from severe mental illness and/or addiction the help and care they need. It represented the first update to California conservatorship law in more than 50 years.

Prior to SB 43, mental-health conservatorships could be used only when a person is a danger to themselves or others, or cannot provide for their food, shelter or clothing. SB 43 expands eligibility for conservatorship to situations where people cannot manage their medical care or personal safety. It also adds substance-use disorders in addition to mental illness as an applicable condition.

Last December, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to delay implementation of SB 43 for one year. Supervisors Terra Lawson Remer and Joel Anderson voted against delaying implementation.

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