5971. (Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 528, Sec. 2.)

(a) “CARE agreement” means a voluntary settlement agreement entered into by the parties. A CARE agreement includes the same elements as a CARE plan to support the respondent in accessing community-based services and supports.

(b) “CARE plan” means an individualized, appropriate range of community-based services and supports, as set forth in this part, which include clinically appropriate behavioral health care and stabilization medications, housing, and other supportive services, as appropriate, pursuant to Section 5982.

(c) “CARE process” means the court and related proceedings to implement the CARE Act.

(d) “Clinically stabilized in ongoing voluntary treatment” means both of the following:

(1) The person’s condition is stable and not deteriorating.

(2) The person is currently engaged in treatment and managing symptoms through medication or other therapeutic interventions. Enrollment in treatment alone shall not be considered clinically stabilized in ongoing voluntary treatment.

(f) “County behavioral health agency” means the local director of mental health services described in Section 5607, the local behavioral health director, or both as applicable, or their designee.

(g) “Court-ordered evaluation” means an evaluation ordered by a superior court pursuant to Section 5977.1.

(h) “Department” means the State Department of Health Care Services.

(i) “Graduation plan” means a voluntary agreement entered into by the parties at the end of the CARE program that includes a strategy to support a successful transition out of court jurisdiction and that may include a psychiatric advance directive. A graduation plan includes the same elements as a CARE plan to support the respondent in accessing community-based services and supports. The graduation plan shall not place additional requirements on the local government entities and is not enforceable by the court.

(j) “Homeless outreach worker” means a person who engages people experiencing homelessness to assess for unmet needs, offer information, services, or other assistance, or provide care coordination.

(k) “Indian health care provider” means a health care program operated by the Indian Health Service, an Indian tribe, a tribal organization, or urban Indian organization (I/T/U) as those terms are defined in Section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1603).

(l) “Legal proceeding” means any administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding, including, but not limited to, juvenile court proceedings and family court proceedings and services, and any form of alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation, except for the following:

(1) A proceeding under this part.

(2) A proceeding under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act described in paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 5979.

(3) A proceeding from which the respondent was referred to CARE Act proceedings as described in Section 5978.

(4) A disciplinary proceeding under Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 6000) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code.

(5) An appeal from any of the proceedings identified in paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive.

(m) “Licensed behavioral health professional” means either of the following:

(1) A licensed mental health professional, as defined in subdivision (j) of Section 4096.

(2) A person who has been granted a waiver of licensure requirements by the department pursuant to Section 5751.2.

(n) “Parties” means the petitioner, the respondent, the county behavioral health agency in the county where proceedings under this part are pending, and any local governmental entity added by the court pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Section 5977.1.

(o) “Petitioner” means the person who files the CARE Act petition with the court. Additionally, if the petitioner is a person listed in Section 5974 other than the director of a county behavioral health agency, or their designee, the petitioner shall have the right to file a petition with the court, but at the initial hearing the court shall substitute the director of a county behavioral health agency, or their designee, of the county in which the proceedings are filed as petitioner. The original petitioner may, at the court’s discretion and in furtherance of the interests of the respondent, retain rights as described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) of Section 5977.

(p) “Psychiatric advance directive” means a legal document, executed on a voluntary basis in accordance with the requirements for advance health care directives in Division 4.7 (commencing with Section 4600) of the Probate Code, by a person who has the capacity to make medical decisions, that allows a person with mental illness to protect their autonomy and ability to direct their own care by documenting their preferences for treatment in advance of a mental health crisis.

(q) “Respondent” means the person who is the subject of the petition for the CARE process.

(r) “Stabilization medications” means medications included in the CARE plan that primarily consist of antipsychotic medications to reduce symptoms of hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking. Stabilization medications may be administered as long-acting injections if clinically indicated. Stabilization medications shall not be forcibly administered.

(s) “Supporter” means an adult designated by the respondent who assists the person who is the subject of the petition, which assistance may include supporting the person to understand, make, communicate, implement, or act on their own life decisions during the CARE process, including a CARE agreement, a CARE plan, and developing a graduation plan. A supporter shall not act independently.