Behavioral Health Conservatorship
One of the most significant interventions in behavioral health is to establish a “conservatorship” to make decisions on a person’s treatment. A behavioral health conservatorship is used with a person who is not able to care for themselves due to a serious mental illness or severe substance use disorder. Civil courts determine when conservatorship is appropriate and name the conservators, following an investigation of the person’s needs and potential alternatives to conservatorship. A behavioral health conservatorship can be temporary (generally a period of 30 days, but shall not exceed 180 days) or permanent (meaning up to one year); after one year, it may be renewed. The person’s conservatorship treatment plan, which is typically developed with input from the individual and their family or supporters, will include goals for treatment and periodic progress reviews to determine when conservatorship is no longer needed. Conservators have a responsibility to ensure treatment is provided in the least restrictive possible setting.
Reports
- 2025 LPS Annual Report
- Senate Bill 929 Report to Legislature (March 2024)
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For access to reports prior to 2024, please visit our Data webpage
Key Legislation
- SB 1184 Mental Health: Involuntary Treatment: Antipsychotic Medication (2023-2024)
- SB 1238 Health Facilities (2023-2024)
- SB 43 Behavioral Health (2023-2024)
- SB 929 Community Mental Health Services: Data Collection (2021-2022)
- Lanterman Petris Short Act (1967)
Behavioral Health Information Notices (BHINs)
- BHIN 25-030: Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act Quarterly Data Collection on Involuntary Treatment: Phase IV of Senate Bill (SB) 929 Implementation
- BHIN 24-043: Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act Quarterly Data Collection on Involuntary Treatment: Phase III of Senate Bill (SB) 929 Implementation
- BHIN 24-013: Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act Quarterly Data Collection on Involuntary Treatment: Phase II of Senate Bill (SB) 929 Implementation
- BHIN 24-011: Senate Bill (SB) 43. Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act: changes to the definition of “gravely disabled”; changes for conservatorship proceedings; expanded data collection requirements
- BHIN 23-015: New process for quarterly reporting of involuntary treatment, and conservatorships to replace the following paper forms: DHCS 1008, 1009, and 1010
- BHIN 22-029: Updates to forms relevant to quarterly reporting of involuntary and voluntary treatment, conservatorships, and convulsive treatment and psychosurgery data: DHCS 1008, 1009, 1010 and 1011