Conservatorship (SB 1045)

SB 1045 is a bill that passed at the state level to expand conservatorship law to include substance abuse and to expand the criteria for losing one’s civil liberties through conservatorships. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors decided to implement this program in San Francisco.

SDA and the Voluntary Services First Coalition have had serious concerns that expanding conservatorship would take away the rights of people with mental health disabilities and substance abuse WITHOUT providing voluntary services. Drug treatment, mental health services, and housing must be available when people ask for them!

Learn more about the problems with SB 1045:

Brochure about SB 1045 & Voluntary Services First

Frequently Asked Questions on SB 1045

Statement by the Voluntary Services First Coalition with list of coalition members.

Fact Sheet

Voluntary Services First Coalition’s response to the City’s draft plan

SB 1045 state legislation: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB1045

SB 1045 text with easy-to-read formatting

Final SF legislation

City of SF’s Final Implementation Plan: Housing Conservatorship FINAL Report

City of SF’s Draft Plan: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HZel8aXR9b4pmP7cY_20LN746sZWcxLj/view

News articles about SB 1045/Conservatorship:

“Should SF Be Able To Compel Mentally Ill Homeless People Into Treatment?” KQED News, April 25, 2019.

“Keep San Francisco home, our housing is our health,” SF Examiner, April 16, 2019.

“Homeless, disability rights advocates disrupt town hall to protest state conservatorship bill,” SF Examiner, April 6, 2019. 

“Critics gather in the Mission to question upcoming vote on conservatorship,” Mission Local, February 25, 2019.

“Don’t ‘lock them up,'” SF Examiner, February 21, 2019.

“Impact of homeless conservatorship plan more limited than expected,” SF Examiner, February 11, 2019.

“Cities Across US Are Stripping Homeless People of Their Autonomy,” Truthout, February 10, 2019.

“Conservatorship: The new ‘ugly laws,'” 48 Hills, December 17, 2018.

“SF Moves to Enact Wiener’s Conservatorship Bill,” SF Weekly, October 30, 2018.

“Advocates say SF unprepared to implement conservatorship program for homeless, mentally ill,” SF Examiner, October 29, 2018.

“Response to SB 1045 and Possible Expansion of Conservatorship,” Berkeley Daily Planet, October 12, 2018. 

“Mayor prepared to compel treatment for frequently detained homeless,” SF Examiner, September 27, 2018.

“Conservatorship Legislation Threatens Homeless San Franciscans,” Street Sheet, March 2, 2018.

Tell your mental health story: We need to hear from people about what it’s like to try to access services or what you think of conservatorship. Do you have a mental health condition? Please tell your story! Anonymous if you choose. Please click here for the survey. Click here for a printable version of the questions to copy and distribute.

To join the Voluntary Services First Coalition or find out more, please call Raia or Jessica at (415) 546-1333 or email raia@sdaction.org or jessica@sdaction.org.