Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Colleen Chawla, Chief, San Mateo County Health
Jei Africa, Director, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
Subject: Recommendation to Approve Resolution Authorizing the Use of an Additional 30-day Involuntary Psychiatric Hold (Welfare & Institutions Code Sections 5270.10-5270.)
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing in the County of San Mateo implementation of Section 5270.10-5270.70 of the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act, which allows persons on a 14-Day Involuntary hold to be certified for up to two additional involuntary hold periods of 30 days of involuntary intensive treatment.
body
BACKGROUND:
The LPS Act allows for the County Board of Supervisors to authorize implementation of Welfare and Institutions Code ? 5270.10 et seq. (Section 5270). Section 5270 provides for an additional 30-day involuntary hold for intensive treatment for persons already on a 14-day hold and allows the professional staff of the agency or treating facility to petition the Superior Court for a second additional 30 days of intensive treatment. Currently, persons that would benefit from additional intensive treatment are required to be placed on a temporary conservatorship; otherwise, they are discharged from care.
However, not all persons needing additional intensive treatment need a conservator. The intent of Section 5270 is to reduce the number of gravely disabled persons for whom conservatorship petitions are filed in order to obtain an additional period of treatment, without the belief that a conservator is actually needed and without the intention of proceeding to trial on the conservatorship petition. A 5270 hold allows additional time for the provision of involuntary, intensive psychiatric treatment, is less restrictive than a conservatorship, and may avoid the need for a conservatorship altogether.
This request has been brought for...
Click here for full text