5986. (Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 283, Sec. 22.)

(a) An independent, research-based entity shall be retained by the department to develop, in consultation with county behavioral health agencies, county CARE courts, racial justice experts, and other appropriate stakeholders, including providers and CARE court participants, an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the CARE Act. The independent evaluation shall employ statistical research methodology and include a logic model, hypotheses, comparative or quasi-experimental analyses, and conclusions regarding the extent to which the CARE Act model is associated, correlated, and causally related with the performance of the outcome measures included in the annual reports. The independent evaluation shall include results from a survey conducted of program participants. The independent evaluation shall highlight racial, ethnic, and other demographic disparities, and include causal inference or descriptive analyses regarding the impact of the CARE Act on disparity reduction efforts.

(b) The department shall provide a preliminary report to the Legislature by December 31, 2026, and a final report to the Legislature by December 31, 2028. The department shall post the preliminary and final reports on its internet website.