What Is in California’s Welfare and Institutions Code?

The California Welfare and Institutions Code is one of 29 Codes that contain state statutes. The Code establishes programs and public social services for promoting the public welfare.

The Welfare and Institutions Code contains 20 Divisions. There are also numerous parts, chapters, and articles containing hundreds of code sections, or individual statutes. The following is a broad overview of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

GENERAL PROVISIONS [Sections 1 – 27]

There are 28 Sections.

DIVISION 1. ADMINISTRATION OF WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS [148 – 153]

There are 2 Chapters.

DIVISION 2. CHILDREN [100 – 1500]

There are 2 Parts, 6 Chapters, and 53 Articles.

DIVISION 2.5. YOUTHS [1700 – 2250]

There are 8 Chapters and 23 Articles.

DIVISION 3. NARCOTIC ADDICTS [3300 – 3313]

There is 1 Chapter.

DIVISION 3.5. California Health and Human Services Agency Departments: Public Notice Requirements [3500]

There is 1 Section.

DIVISION 4. MENTAL HEALTH [4000 – 4390]

There are 4 Parts, 22 Chapters, and 6 Articles.

DIVISION 4.1. DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES [4400 – 4499]

There are 2 Parts and 3 Chapters.

DIVISION 4.5. SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED [4500 – 4885]

There are 18 Chapters and 29 Articles.

DIVISION 4.7. PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY AGENCY [4900 – 4906]

There is 1 Chapter.

DIVISION 5. COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES [5000 – 5961.5]

There are 17 Parts, 23 Chapters, and 43 Articles.

DIVISION 6. ADMISSIONS AND JUDICIAL COMMITMENTS [6000 – 6825]

There are 2 Parts, 8 Chapters, and 7 Articles.

DIVISION 7. MENTAL INSTITUTIONS [7100 – 7700]

There are 5 Chapters and 7 Articles.

DIVISION 8. MISCELLANEOUS [8050 – 8261]

There are 10 Chapters and 2 Articles.

DIVISION 8.5. MELLO-GRANLUND OLDER CALIFORNIANS ACT [9000 – 9850]

There are 21 Chapters and 14 Articles.

DIVISION 9. PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES [10000 – 18999.98]

There are 19 Parts, 167 Chapters, and 245 Articles.

DIVISION 10. STATE DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION [19000 – 19806]

There are 2 Parts, 13 Chapters, and 6 Articles.

DIVISION 12. CALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP FOR LONG-TERM CARE [22000 – 22010]

There are 15 Sections.

DIVISION 24. STATE-ONLY FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM [24000 – 24027]

There are 16 Sections.

DIVISION 25. HEALTH CARE COVERAGE [25000 – 25003]

There are 3 Sections.

DIVISION 26. NATURALIZATION SERVICES PROGRAM

There are no provisions.