Implementing AOT in CA

When California passed their assisted outpatient treatment law (AOT) Laura's Law in 2003, it passed without mandating that the counties in that state implement it. Unfortunately for the people in that state with a severe mental illness and lack of insight to remain in treatment, few counties are currently making use of that law.

However, according to an article in the California Chronicle, that could soon change. "Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) has introduced legislation that would help local governments in providing assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) for people with severe mental illnesses. SB 1606 would remove a number of unnecessary and cumbersome requirements in the statute known as 'Laura´s Law,' and will allow counties to maximize their local dollars while giving appropriate services to the individuals who need AOT."

As Carla Jacobs, co-coordinator of the California Treatment Advocacy Coalition, states in this same article"We have the framework and a mountain of data to support AOT, what we need is the will from local government leaders to put this statute into action. People are dying who could have been helped."

As many of us advocate for changes to the treatment laws in Pennsylvania, we wish them success to see their AOT law implemented state-wide and will be sure to require that our counties have a mandate to implement our proposed bill, SB 226, when it becomes law.