Conservatorships.

Assembly Member Quirk-Silva's conservatorship reform legislation expands placement options for conservators while establishing new oversight requirements for facilities housing individuals with major neurocognitive disorders. The measure modifies existing law to permit conservator-authorized placements in residential facilities, intermediate care facilities, and nursing facilities that maintain either secured perimeters or delayed egress systems.

The legislation requires court approval, based on clear and convincing evidence, before any conservatee placement. Courts must verify the presence of a major neurocognitive disorder, confirm the conservatee's inability to provide informed consent, and determine that the secured environment serves the conservatee's needs while remaining the least restrictive appropriate option. Subsequent transfers between facility types also require court authorization, except in emergencies governed by existing protocols.

To prevent potential medication misuse, the bill maintains current protections regarding psychotropic medication administration while accommodating religious preferences for prayer-based healing through accredited practitioners. Annual court investigator reviews monitor ongoing placement appropriateness, with conservatees retaining the right to object to their conservator's authority. The legislation prohibits placements in mental health rehabilitation centers or institutions for mental disease as defined in state code.