Disability Rights California (DRC) is greatly disappointed by Governor Newsom’s signing of SB 43 (Eggman), which expands criteria for involuntarily confining people with disabilities. We’re further disturbed that the Governor signed this regressive legislation on World Mental Health Day.

“It’s outrageous Governor Newsom chose World Mental Health Day to sign the first in a series of bills to overhaul mental health and make it easier to lock up people with mental health disabilities,” said Deb Roth, DRC Senior Legislative Advocate.

SB 43 (Eggman) expands the definition of “gravely disabled,” a legal standard for involuntarily detaining and conserving individuals. The measure is one of three major pieces of legislation supported by the Governor to overhaul mental health laws, along with the recently launched CARE Court.

As the author of SB 43 noted, deinstitutionalization was an unfulfilled promise because needed community-based services did not follow. Instead of fulfilling that promise now, the Governor and Legislature are determined to erode the civil rights of people with mental health disabilities in a misguided attempt to address homelessness.

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) statement today, “Having a mental health condition should never be a reason to deprive a person of their human rights or to exclude them from decisions about their own health. Yet, all over the world, people with mental health conditions continue to experience a wide range of human rights violations. Many are excluded from community life and discriminated against.”

Disability Rights California (DRC) – Is the agency designated under federal law to protect and advocate for the rights of Californians with disabilities. The mission of drc is to defend, advance, and strengthen the rights and opportunities of people with disabilities. For more information visit: https://www.disabilityrightsca.org.