Resource Link

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB1663

Resource Description

Introduction: This document is Assembly Bill 1663, which became California law in September 2022. The bill makes major changes to how adults with disabilities can get help making decisions about their lives. It creates new rules about conservatorships and adds a new option called Supported Decision Making.

Resource Summary

Content Summary: Before this law, many adults with disabilities had to use conservatorships, where a court gives someone else the power to make choices for them. But conservatorships can take away too many rights from people. This new law says courts must try less strict options first. The law creates Supported Decision Making as a new way to help adults with disabilities. With this option, people pick trusted helpers to support them in making their own choices. These helpers could be family, friends, or others who know them well. The person with a disability stays in charge of their own choices, but gets help understanding options and speaking up about what they want. The law makes courts tell people about their rights in simple words they can understand. Everyone under conservatorship must get a yearly letter that lists what rights they still have. These rights include things like getting mail, having visitors, and making some choices about their health care. Courts must now check more often to make sure conservatorships are still needed. They must look for ways to help people make more choices on their own. If someone wants to end their conservatorship, the court must listen to them and consider their request. The law also creates programs in every court to help people learn about their options. These programs will teach people about Supported Decision Making and other ways to get help without giving up their rights. The programs will help people fill out forms and understand how to use these options. The law sets clear rules about who can be a helper in Supported Decision Making. Helpers must be honest and respect what the person wants. They cannot be someone who has hurt the person or broken their trust before. The person with a disability can change their mind about their helpers at any time.