LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeWelfare and Institutions CodeDiv. 5Pt. 1Ch. 1§ 5121 County Mental Health Designation

§ 5121 County Mental Health Designation

Welfare and Institutions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 5121 County Mental Health Designation

Key Takeaways

  • •Counties can set rules for who can help in mental health emergencies (like Section 5150 cases).
  • •These helpers must be trained and approved by the county.
  • •If someone is denied or loses their approval, the county must explain why in writing.
  • •In Sacramento, the county must approve city workers for this role if they meet the rules and training.

Example

A nurse wants to join a team that helps people in mental health crises.

The county checks if the nurse has the right training and experience. If approved, the nurse can help. If not, the county must tell the nurse why in writing.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 5121 County Mental Health Designation

(a) The county behavioral health director may develop procedures for the county’s designation and training of professionals who will be designated to perform functions under Section 5150. These procedures may include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) The license types, practice disciplines, and clinical experience of professionals eligible to be designated by the county. (2) The initial and ongoing training and testing requirements for professionals eligible to be designated by the county. (3) The application and approval processes for professionals seeking to be designated by the county, including the timeframe for initial designation and procedures for renewal of the designation. (4) The county’s process for monitoring and reviewing professionals designated by the county to ensure appropriate compliance with state law, regulations, and county procedures. (b) A county behavioral health director may develop a training for the procedures for designation developed pursuant to subdivision (a). (c) If a county behavioral health director denies or revokes an individual’s designation, the county behavioral health director shall, in writing, notify the person who made the request for designation of the individual and the individual who is the subject of the request for designation describing the reasons for denial or revocation. (d) Designated members of a mobile crisis team and designated professional persons shall not be prohibited from transporting a person taken into custody pursuant to Section 5150. (e) If the county behavioral health director of the County of Sacramento develops procedures pursuant to subdivision (a), the county behavioral health director of the County of Sacramento shall, by April 1, 2022, issue a written policy regarding the procedures developed pursuant to subdivision (a). The policy shall address, at a minimum, the topics identified in paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, of subdivision (a). The policy shall require the county behavioral health director of the County of Sacramento to designate individuals employed by the City of Sacramento who are also members of a mobile crisis team or who are also professional persons if all of the following are true: (1) The City of Sacramento submits a written request to the county behavioral health director. (2) The individuals meet the requirements for designation included in the policy. (3) If the county behavioral health director of the County of Sacramento has developed a training pursuant to subdivision (b), the individuals have completed that training. (Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 399, Sec. 1. (AB 1443) Effective January 1, 2022.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

designationcompliancecrisisdangerhealthcustodyportregulation

Related Statutes

  • § 5600.2 Mental Health Client Rights
  • § 5614 Behavioral Health Compliance Protocol
  • § 5614.5 Mental Health Quality Indicators
  • § 10205 Department Program Transfer Authority
  • § 11023.7 County Benefit Text Notices

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Welfare and Institutions Code. Section 5121.
View Official Source