CA SB1427

Establishes the Homeless and Mental Health Court Grant Program administered by the Judicial Council to provide competitive grants to counties for establishing or expanding homeless courts and mental health courts serving misdemeanor and infraction defendants.

Authorizes use of grant funds for personnel costs, court expansion, mental health evaluations, housing navigation, drug treatment referrals, housing vouchers, and medication-assisted treatment services for eligible defendants placed on diversion or deferred entry of judgment.

Creates the Transitioning Home Grant Program administered by the Board of State and Community Corrections to provide grants to county sheriffs and jail administrators for reducing homelessness among released inmates through housing navigation, vouchers, transportation, and reentry planning.

Requires counties and sheriffs receiving grants to collect and maintain data on program effectiveness, including recidivism rates and housing placement outcomes, with reports due to the Legislature by July 1, 2026.

Both grant programs expire on January 1, 2027, and are operative only upon express funding appropriation in the annual Budget Act or other statute.