Title
REQUEST FROM PRESIDENT BIGGS TO REVIEW INFORMATION REGARDING
LAURA'S LAW AND CONSIDER ADVOCATING IN SUPPORT OF ITS
IMPLEMENTATION IN ALAMEDA COUNTY
Body
SSHRB has been approached by United for a Path to Hope to lend support for the adoption of Laura's Law in Alameda County. Laura's Law is a California state law permitting court-ordered Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) for people with severe mental illness and a history of refusing treatment, repeated psychiatric hospitalizations and/or incarcerations, or who have made threats or attempted serious violence toward themselves or others. Enacted in 2003, the statute can only be implemented in counties that choose to use it. This law provides for outpatient treatment by a team of mental health professionals with services, including housing (if needed) to help a person become stabilized and move on toward recovery. Mental health trauma directly and indirectly impacts a significant number of Alameda residents, as is evidenced by the rise of "5150" police calls. As implementation of this law has a direct impact on the access to social services for those Alameda residents in critical need, it is within the purview of the SSHRB to identify steps that can be taken to promote implementation of the law.
Additional information on Laura's Law and the steps necessary to achieve implementation of the Law in Alameda County is included in ATTACHMENT A.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Board review and discuss the information regarding Laura's Law and take actions as deemed appropriate.