Title
Title
Rules and Forms | Mental Health Law: Implementation of CARE Act Legislation (Action Required)
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Summary
Summary
To implement recently enacted legislation regarding the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act, the Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee recommends amending a heading of an article of the California Rules of Court, amending four rules of court, repealing one rule of court, approving two forms, and revising five forms. Senate Bill 27 (Stats. 2025, ch. 528) amended both substantive and procedural aspects of the CARE Act, including changes to eligibility criteria and processes for initiating proceedings. The committee recommends making these changes to rules and forms to conform with SB 27. The committee also recommends minor changes to improve form usability and clarity and maintain rule consistency.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
The Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee recommends that the Judicial Council, effective July 1, 2026:
1. Amend the heading of article 2 of chapter 2 of division 2 of title 7 of the California Rules of Court to reflect recent form name changes and to maintain consistency with related CARE Act rules;
2. Amend California Rules of Court, rules 7.2221, 7.2223, 7.2230, and 7.2235 to conform with SB 27's intracourt referral process granting the CARE Act court authority to deem certain referrals to be petitions;
3. Repeal California Rules of Court, rule 7.2225 to avoid inconsistency with revised rule 7.2221 and reflect changes from SB 27 to the way CARE Act proceedings can commence;
4. Approve Court Referral to the CARE Act Court (form CARE-125) and Ruling or Order on Court Referral to CARE Act Court (form CARE-126) as optional forms to implement SB 27's intracourt referral process; and
5. Revise Information for Petitioners--About the CARE Act (form CARE-050-INFO), Information for Respondents--About the CARE Act (form CARE-060-INFO), Petition to Begin CARE Act Proceedings (f...
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