Existing law sets forth various functions and duties for the State Department of State Hospitals with respect to the administration of state institutions for the care and treatment of persons with mental health disorders. Existing law, the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, among other provisions, authorizes the involuntary detention for up to 180 days, of certain persons who have been determined to be imminently dangerous, as specified. The act also authorizes the appointment of a conservator of the person, or of the estate, or of the person and the estate, for a person who is gravely disabled or impaired by chronic alcoholism. Existing law requires a conservator appointed pursuant to these provisions to place the conservatee according to specified requirements and authorizes the placement to include certain facilities, including, among others, a state hospital. Existing law requires counties to contract with the department for the number and types of state hospital beds required by the counties for purposes of the act, and requires the contract to set forth the specific type of services requested by the county. Existing law requires the department, in collaboration with counties, to prepare and publish a catalog of available state hospital services, and annually update the catalog.
This bill would require the department to make the catalog easily accessible on the department's internet website.