Orange County, California Adopts Assisted Outpatient Civil Commitment Statutes

On May 13, 2014, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt “Laura’s Law” and to revise county civil commitment statutes to permit courts to order adults with severe mental illness (SMI) to participate in an assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) program. The law goes into effect on July 1, 2014; the county anticipates implementing its AOT program in October 2014. Persons court-ordered to AOT will be required to meet with a treatment team and participate in treatment; however, the law does not permit involuntary medication. The county anticipates that 120 people will be treated annually under . . .