CA SB1242

Requires courts to allow parent or family member petitioners to participate in CARE Court proceedings for respondents with severe mental illness, unless the court determines participation would likely be detrimental to the respondent's treatment or well-being

Authorizes courts to limit or exclude family petitioner participation upon finding it would harm the respondent's treatment or well-being, either on the court's own motion or at the respondent's request

Prohibits disclosure of protected patient information (under HIPAA, California medical confidentiality laws, or the CARE Act) to family petitioners without the respondent's consent

Amends existing CARE Act provisions that previously only allowed family petitioner participation with the respondent's consent, shifting the default to presumptive participation rights for specified family members