Sacramento, CA — Yesterday, Assembly Bill 46 by Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen (D–Elk Grove) passed off the Senate Floor with bipartisan support, receiving 36 votes with no "No" votes. The bill now returns to the Assembly Floor for concurrence before heading to the Governor’s desk.
“This bill stems from collaboration between many different stakeholders to ensure California’s mental health diversion laws protect both public safety and access to treatment,” said Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen. “AB 46 preserves diversion as an important pathway to care while ensuring judges have a more balance and workable standard when serious public safety concerns are present.”
“A common refrain from judges handling mental health diversion cases is “my hands were tied” when asked to justify their decision.,” said Greg Totten, Chief Executive Officer of the California District Attorneys Association. “Assembly Bill 46 restores judges’ discretion to use their experience, knowledge, and judgment when evaluating a defendant’s dangerousness and restores common sense to our mental health diversion law."
"With the overwhelming passage of AB 46 on the Senate floor, this important bill has reached one of its final milestones on the path to becoming law,” said Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho. “I am grateful for the Senate’s thoughtful consideration, and I appreciate the continued bipartisan collaboration as the measure moves to the Assembly for concurrence before heading to the Governor’s desk. I strongly urge the Assembly and the Governor to take the final steps to pass AB 46 and put critical safeguards on California's Mental Health Diversion to protect public safety."
AB 46 will return to the Assembly for concurrence in the coming days before heading to the Governor’s desk.
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Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen represents the Cities of Sacramento and Elk Grove