Report 2019-119 Recommendation Responses

Report 2019-119: Lanterman-Petris-Short Act: California Has Not Ensured That Individuals With Serious Mental Illnesses Receive Adequate Ongoing Care (Release Date: July 2020)

Recommendation for Legislative Action

To ensure that it is informed about the costs of providing adequate care to individuals treated through the LPS Act, the Legislature should require State Hospitals to report by no later than April 2021 about the cost of expanding its facilities' capacities to reduce and stabilize the LPS waitlist. The report should include a range of options including, but not limited to, reducing the LPS waitlist to limit wait times to within 60 days.

Description of Legislative Action

SB 565 (Jones, 2021) would have required State Hospitals, on or before July 1, 2022, to develop a plan to expand the capacity of its facilities to reduce wait times for a person committed to a State Hospitals facility pursuant to the LPS Act to 60 days or less. The bill would require State Hospitals, on or before July 1, 2022, to submit to the Legislature a copy of the plan and a report regarding the anticipated cost of implementing the plan. The bill would require State Hospitals, on or before January 1, 2027, to implement that plan. This bill died in the Senate on February 1, 2022.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Legislation Proposed But Not Enacted

SB 565 (Jones, 2021) died on February 1, 2022.


Description of Legislative Action

SB 565 (Jones, 2021) would require State Hospitals, on or before July 1, 2022, to develop a plan to expand the capacity of its facilities to reduce wait times for a person committed to a State Hospitals facility pursuant to the LPS Act to 60 days or less. The bill would require State Hospitals, on or before July 1, 2022, to submit to the Legislature a copy of the plan and a report regarding the anticipated cost of implementing the plan. The bill would require State Hospitals, on or before January 1, 2027, to implement that plan.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Legislation Introduced


Description of Legislative Action

As of January 28, 2021, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: No Action Taken


Description of Legislative Action

As of September 28, 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken


All Recommendations in 2019-119