Healthcare
Mental health
AB 2405 requires officers taking someone into a 72-hour mental-health hold to use the nearest appropriate assessment site or emergency department.
The law aims to shorten transport to care while allowing officers to consider a person's stated facility preference when it will not delay treatment or substantially extend travel.
What the law does
- Requires peace officers transporting a person under a Section 5150 hold to take them to the closest appropriate designated assessment facility by distance or travel time.
- Requires transport to the closest appropriate emergency department when an emergency department is the most appropriate destination.
- Allows the person to state a preferred facility, which an officer may consider if doing so does not unreasonably delay care or excessively depart from the nearest appropriate destination.
- Preserves officers' ability to follow written local behavioral-health diversion, transportation, and destination policies or agreements.
- Excludes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and California Correctional Health Care Services.
Who it affects
- People detained for mental-health assessment under Section 5150.
- Peace officers transporting those people.
- Local law-enforcement agencies and designated mental-health assessment facilities.
Context
Local agencies and school districts may be reimbursed if the Commission on State Mandates finds the law creates state-mandated costs.