Laura's Law

Background

2020 Update: New CA legislation, AB 1976 requires counties to participate in Laura's Law unless they opt out.

Signed into law in 2002, Laura’s Law was adopted by the state Legislature after a man with mental illness fatally shot Laura Wilcox, a 19-year-old volunteer at a Nevada County mental health clinic. The legislation allows each county in the state to decide whether to adopt the provision. To qualify for Laura’s Law, an individual must have a serious mental illness that resulted in a psychiatric hospitalization or incarceration twice in the previous three years or resulted in violent behavior within the past 48 months. While outpatient treatment can be ordered, medication cannot.  Laura’s Law is designed specifically to help individuals with mental illness who suffer from a condition known as “anosognosia,” a complete lack of awareness of their mental illness.

2020 legislation, AB 1976 requires counties to participate in Laura's Law unless they opt out.

Counties who have approved implementation of Laura's Law:

Alameda County
Contra Costa County
El Dorado County
Kern County
Los Angeles County
Marin County
Mendocino County
Nevada County
Orange County 
Placer County
San Diego County
San Francisco City/County
San Luis Obispo County
San Mateo County
Santa Barbara County
Shasta County
Stanislaus County
Ventura County
Yolo County

Articles/Reports

DHCS Legislative Report 2018-19 Highlights:
  • Hospitalizations were reduced by a 33 percent change during AOT, as compared to prior to the program. All counties reported a decrease in the number of days hospitalized, frequency of psychiatric hospitalizations, and/or crisis interventions per individual.
  • Law enforcement contacts were reduced by a 43 percent change during AOT, as compared to prior to the program. Five counties reported all participants avoided law enforcement contact while receiving services. Four of the six counties that reported incarcerations of participants during AOT, noted reductions in the number of days incarcerated per individual.

OFFICE

717 K STREET, SUITE 427
SACRAMENTO, CA 95814

mission

cALBHB/C supports the work of california's 59 local mental/ behavioral health boards and commissions by providing resources, training, and opportunities for communication and statewide advocacy.

Local boards are responsible for reviewing community mental health needs, services, facilities and special problems, and serve in an advisory capacity to local governing bodies and local mental/behavioral health directors per CA Welfare and Institutions Code 5604.2.
Donations are welcome. CALBHB/C is a nonprofit organization.