Welfare and Institutions Code section 5978

(a)

A court may refer an individual from assisted outpatient treatment, as well as from conservatorship proceedings pursuant Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5350) of Part 1 of Division 5 (LPS conservatorship) to CARE Act proceedings. If the individual is referred from assisted outpatient treatment, the county behavioral health director or their designee shall be the petitioner. If the individual is referred from LPS conservatorship proceedings, the conservator or proposed conservator shall be the petitioner pursuant to Section 5974.

(b)

A court may refer an individual from misdemeanor proceedings pursuant to Section 1370.01 of the Penal Code to CARE Act proceedings. The county behavioral health director or their designee shall be the petitioner.

Source: Section 5978, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=WIC§ionNum=5978.­ (updated Sep. 30, 2023; accessed Nov. 3, 2025).

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Verified:
Nov. 3, 2025

§ 5978's source at ca​.gov