Some California counties' sluggish pace in adopting Senate Bill 43—which overhauls mental health conservatorship laws for the first time in over half a century—is drawing ire from state and local leaders, sparking a series of pointed responses. Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a letter to the county boards, criticized the slow rollout of the bill, which now includes substance-use disorders as a condition for conservatorship and expands eligibility to those unable to manage personal safety or medical care, according to Voice of San Diego.
Despite Newsom's call to action and a legislative backdrop that included a substantial $6.4 billion for mental health care services approved by voters, San Diego County's efforts have been notably checked by a vote last December to delay implementation. Mayor Todd Gloria lamented the lost time, reinforcing his endorsement of immediate action. "California cannot continue to ignore people with severe mental illness, especially those living on our streets," Mayor Gloria said, as per the City of San Diego, "The delays by counties across the state to implement this powerful tool for change are unacceptable and are costing people their lives."
Conversely, Chairwoman Nora Vargas pointed out that San Diego will be among the initial counties to operationalize SB 43 by January 2025, and plans are afoot to ensure the infrastructure and training are in place. This rates as somewhat of a bright spot, as per her announcement on X. Yet the general tableau across the state remains bleaked by inertia, as most counties still hesitate ahead of the January 2026 deadline, a postponement Newsom called out as unacceptable given the lives at stake on California's streets.
As Chairwoman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, I am proud that San Diego County will be among the first in the state to implement Senate Bill (SB) 43, setting a statewide standard.
— Supervisor Nora Vargas (@SupNoraVargas) July 30, 2024
Read my letter to Governor Newsom here: https://t.co/WI8L3xlLSG pic.twitter.com/Ah7OeXA0N7
