Sets statewide priorities for mental health prevention

Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), an initiative measure enacted by the voters by Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, establishes the continuously appropriated Mental Health Services Fund to fund various county mental health programs by imposing a tax of 1% on annual incomes above $1,000,000. The MHSA establishes the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission to oversee various parts of the act, as specified. Under the MHSA, funds are distributed to counties to be expended pursuant to a local plan for specified purposes, including, but not limited to, prevention and early intervention. Existing law specifies that prevention and early intervention services include outreach, access, and linkage to medically necessary care, reduction in stigma, and reduction in discrimination. The MHSA permits amendment by the Legislature by a 2/3 vote of each house if the amendment is consistent with, and furthers the intent of, the MHSA.

This bill would require the commission, on or before January 1, 2020, to establish priorities for the use of prevention and early intervention funds and to develop a statewide strategy for monitoring implementation of prevention and early intervention services, including enhancing public understanding of prevention and early intervention and creating metrics for assessing the effectiveness of how prevention and early intervention funds are used and the outcomes that are achieved. The bill would require the commission to establish a strategy for technical assistance, support, and evaluation to support the successful implementation of the objectives, metrics, data collection, and reporting strategy. The bill would amend the Mental Health Services Act by requiring the portion of the funds in the county plan relating to prevention and early intervention to focus on the priorities established by the commission. The bill would authorize a county to include other priorities, as determined through the stakeholder process, either in place of, or in addition to, the established priorities. If the county chooses to include other programs, the bill would require the plan to include a description of why those programs are included and metrics by which the effectiveness of those programs are to be measured. The bill would authorize counties to act jointly to meet specified requirements. The bill would require the commission to review the plans and approve them if they meet specified requirements. This bill would declare that its provisions further the intent of the MHSA.

By requiring counties to include additional information in their local plans, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.