San Francisco is gearing up to roll out its latest tool in the battle against severe substance use disorders come the New Year, Mayor London N. Breed confirmed Thursday. The city is set to implement Senate Bill 43, a state law sanctioned by Governor Newsom in October that broadens the criteria under which individuals can be placed in conservatorship due to substance use alone.
The new law, which takes effect January 1, 2024, is a change-up to existing mental health conservatorship laws and aims to quickly provide help for those whose substance abuse renders them incapable of caring for themselves. According to an announcement on San Francisco's official government website, the expansion brings the possibility of conservatorship to those specifically struggling with severe substance use disorder, a step beyond the previous law's coverage of serious mental illness or chronic alcoholism.
Breed's administration has wasted no time in preparing for the law's deployment, issuing an Executive Directive immediately after the law was passed, mandating city departments to be ready for swift implementation. The directive mandates training for city staff on the newly expanded definition of "gravely disabled" and outlines a timetable for the policy's rollout, according to the same source.
A public conservator, once appointed, has the authority to mandate psychiatric treatment for a person meeting the legal yardstick of grave disability. "People are struggling with severe substance use and mental health challenges in our city to the point where they cannot help themselves," Breed said. "When we have an opportunity to put a new solution into place, we must work quickly to do everything we can to implement it."
Details on the city's preparedness and the law’s implications were outlined in an official statement available through a link provided by the city's news release. The expanded scope of the bill now includes individuals who cannot provide basic needs for themselves, such as food, clothing, shelter, personal safety, or necessary medical care, as a result of their substance use disorder.
Director of Health Dr. Grant Colfax emphasized the benefits of integrating SB 43 into the city's existing care network, saying, "SB 43 provides us another opportunity in our larger system of care and support to help those with the most acute behavioral health needs." City Attorney David Chiu also highlighted the evolution of the city's approach, noting that "the previous definition of grave disability was written in the 1970s" and that today's societal challenges called for an update.
Moving forward, the Public Conservator will begin to receive referrals under the new criteria set by SB 43. Eligible individuals, after an assessment, could see themselves placed under conservatorship for up to a year, with potential annual renewals.
