Memorandum
Date: November 18, 2025
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Elise Jones, Director of Behavioral Health Services
Subject: Approve the First Amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Lake County Department of Social Services and Lake County Behavioral Health Services for the Shared Provision of Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Conservatorship Services.
Executive Summary:
In 2021, the Board approved an MOU between BHS and DSS to formalize long-standing collaboration in implementing the LPS Conservatorship program, through which the Public Conservator (DSS) and Behavioral Health (BHS) jointly provide care and oversight for individuals deemed gravely disabled due to mental illness under Welfare and Institutions Code ?5000 et seq.
Since the MOU's adoption, the State has enacted major reforms impacting local conservatorship operations:
* CARE Court (SB 1338, 2022) requires counties to implement court-ordered treatment plans for individuals with untreated schizophrenia spectrum or related psychotic disorders, mandating new court participation, data reporting, and outreach duties.
* SB 43 (2023) expands the statutory definition of "grave disability," increases eligibility for LPS Conservatorships, and introduces new screening and placement protocols.
These legislative changes substantially expand local responsibilities for both departments. The First Amendment ensures Lake County remains compliant with state mandates while clearly defining operational duties, staffing needs, and cost allocations between DSS and BHS.
Lake County Behavioral Health Services (BHS) requests Board approval of the First Amendment to the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Lake County Department of Social Services (DSS) for the shared provision of Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Conservatorship Services.
The amendment updates the scope, staffing, and budget of the existing MOU to incorporate new service mandates required under th...
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