(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage the development of a system of residential treatment programs in every county which provides a range of alternatives to institutional care based on principles of residential, community-based treatment.

(b) It is further the intent of the Legislature that community residential mental health programs in the State of California be developed in accordance with the guidelines and principles set forth in this chapter. To this end, counties may implement the community residential treatment system described in this chapter either with available county allocations, or as new moneys become available.

(Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 89, Sec. 134. Effective June 30, 1991.)