× The federal government has shut down due to the failures of the President and Congress to continue government funding. Millions of Californians receiving benefits from state programs may be impacted. For now, California’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will continue to provide services and enroll eligible families as long as funding is available. No new federal funding to California WIC will be provided until the President and Congress take action. Families should continue to use their WIC benefits and attend their WIC appointments. This information is subject to change, so please monitor the California WIC website for updates.

Please be wary of potential highly partisan political messaging while visiting federal government websites for information related to the federal government shutdown.

Skip Navigation LinksAFL-18-55

Top Menu
Left Menu
State of Cal Logo
EDMUND G. BROWN JR.
Governor

Health and Human Services Agency
California Department of Public Health


AFL 18-55
December 12, 2018


TO:
General Acute Care Hospitals (GACH)
Acute Psychiatric Hospitals (APH)

SUBJECT:
Assembly Bill (AB) 2983 (Arambula) - Health Care Facilities: Voluntary Psychiatric Care


​AUTHORITY:      Health and Safety Code (HSC) section 1317


All Facilities Letter (AFL) Summary

This AFL notifies GACHs and APHs with emergency departments of the chaptering of AB 2983, which prohibits GACHs or APHs from requiring a person voluntarily seeking care to be on an involuntary hold as a condition of accepting a transfer of that person.

​Effective January 1, 2019, AB 2983 (Chapter 831, Statutes of 2018) prohibits GACHs and APHs from requiring a person voluntarily seeking care to be on an involuntary hold as a condition of accepting a transfer of that person after documenting a patient’s written consent for treatment and transfer, or in the absence of evidence of probable cause for detention, pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) section 5150.05(a). AB 2983 does not preclude the use of involuntary holds, pursuant to WIC section 5150; however, AB 2983 clarifies that involuntary holds are not a requirement for transferring a patient who voluntarily seeks mental health services.

The California Department Public Health’s failure to expressly notify facilities of statutory or regulatory requirements does not relieve facilities of their responsibility for following all laws and regulations. Facilities should refer to the full text of all applicable sections of HSC and the California Code of Regulations to ensure compliance.

Sincerely,

Original signed by Scott Vivona

Scott Vivona
Assistant Deputy Director

Page Last Updated :