Date: Monday, 12/18/2023 – In a recent tirade, Governor Gavin Newsom targeted a majority of California’s counties for what he perceives as a delay in implementing a new law expanding conservatorship eligibility for individuals with severe substance abuse disorders. The law in question, SB 43 (Eggman), actually provides counties with a deadline of 2026 for full implementation, but Newsom is taking issue with counties, including Sacramento, for planning to wait until 2025.
Newsom’s urgency stems from his assertion that lives are at stake, stating,
“They have to recognize people are dying on their watch. We cannot wait until 2026; we cannot wait until 2025; people will literally lose their lives.”
However, California’s counties defend their timelines, arguing that the provisions outlined in SB 43 are unprecedented and necessitate behavioral health support that is currently lacking. Sacramento County Supervisor Pat Hume explained,
“Right now, I think if we were to implement this law overnight, we have two options, either jail or the emergency room. And neither one is going to necessarily help.”
Adding to the complexity, California faces a daunting $68 billion deficit, foreshadowing future cuts to local funding. The trifecta of homelessness, mental illness, and substance abuse has undeniably reached crisis levels in the state, but localities emphasize the need for thoughtful consideration.
Hume further remarked,
“Homelessness, mental illness, and substance abuse have undoubtedly reached crisis levels in California. But it took the state over 50 years to get to this point. Let’s cut our localities some slack and allow them 24 months.”
As the debate unfolds, the delicate balance between urgency and practicality remains a central point of contention, with the looming deficit adding an additional layer of complexity to the challenge of addressing California’s multifaceted crisis.
