FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2023

CONTACT:
MayorPress@sandiego.gov

SAN DIEGO Today, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, the chair of the California Big City Mayors a bipartisan coalition of the Mayors of Californias 13 most populous cities -- served as the lead witness before the state Senates Judiciary Committee in support of Senate Bill 43. Authored by Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton), the legislation would update Californias conservatorship laws to help those suffering from severe mental illness get the help and care they need.

Specifically, SB 43 would expand the definition of gravely disabled in conservatorship law, allowing consideration of a persons inability to attend to their necessary personal or medical care. It would also update conservatorship laws to include substance-use disorder as a factor in addition to mental illness. SB 43 will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Mayor Gloria issued the following statement after the committee approved the bill:

Today, we took an important step toward reforming Californias inadequate conservatorship laws to ensure people suffering from severe mental illness and addiction issues can get the care they need.

All Californians have seen the need for this reform in their communities whether among our unhoused population or families struggling to get care for a severely ill loved one. By passing Sen. Susan Eggmans Senate Bill 43, the Senates Judiciary Committee has advanced a truly significant behavioral health policy reform and given these folks hope.

Californias mayors are on the frontlines of the states homelessness and mental health crises, and we need tools like conservatorship to help our most vulnerable residents. We are excited to continue to work on this bill on behalf of the families and people who desperately need and deserve mental health care.

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The Big City Mayors is a coalition of Mayors across Californias 13 largest cities. Members include Mayors from Los Angeles, San Diego, San José, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach, Oakland, Bakersfield, Anaheim, Stockton, Riverside, and Irvine.