Bill Text: CA AB2017 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: College Mental Health Services Program.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)

Status: (Vetoed) 2016-09-24 - Vetoed by Governor. [AB2017 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB2017-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 2017	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member McCarty

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2016

   An act to add Part 3.3 (commencing with Section 5832) to Division
5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to mental health,
and making an appropriation therefor.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2017, as introduced, McCarty. College Mental Health Services
Program.
   Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act, an initiative
measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2,
2004, statewide general election, funds a system of county mental
health plans for the provision of mental health services, as
specified. The act provides that it may be amended by the Legislature
by a 2/3 vote of each house as long as the amendment is consistent
with and furthers the intent of the act.
   The act establishes the Mental Health Services Fund, continuously
appropriated to and administered by the State Department of Health
Care Services, to fund specified county mental health programs,
including prevention and early intervention programs and programs
implemented under the Adult and Older Adult Mental Health System of
Care Act. The act authorizes the payment of administrative costs of
the state from the fund in an amount not greater than 5% of the
annual total deposited in the fund and otherwise specifies the
distribution of moneys in the fund.
   This bill would establish the College Mental Health Services Trust
Account and would appropriate an unspecified amount annually to that
account from the Mental Health Services Fund, to be used by the
department to create a grant program for public community colleges,
colleges, and universities to improve access to mental health
services on campus, as specified. The bill would require campuses
that have been awarded grants annually to report on the use of grant
funds.
   By changing the funding structure approved by the voters, this
bill would amend the Mental Health Services Act. The bill would state
the finding of the Legislature that the measure is consistent with
and furthers the purposes of the Mental Health Services Act.
   Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares that this measure is
consistent with and furthers the purposes of the Mental Health
Services Act within the meaning of Section 18 of that act.
  SEC. 2.  Part 3.3 (commencing with Section 5832) is added to
Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

      PART 3.3.  College Mental Health Services Program


   5832.  (a) There is hereby established in the State Treasury the
College Mental Health Services Trust Account to be used by the State
Department of Health Care Services to fund the grant program
established pursuant to this part.
   (b) Notwithstanding Section 5892 or any other law, ____ dollars
($____) shall be transferred from the Mental Health Services Fund
into the College Mental Health Services Trust Account annually.
   5832.1.  (a) The department, in consultation with the California
Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA), shall create a grant
program for public community colleges, colleges, and universities to
improve access to mental health services on campus. The department
and CalMHSA shall establish guidelines for grant funding that shall
include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
   (1) The ability of the program to fund the matching component
required by subdivision (c).
   (2) The ability of the campus, in partnership with the local
county, to establish direct linkages for students to community-based
mental health services for which the students' health coverage makes
them eligible, ensuring provider reimbursement.
   (3) The ability to participate in evidence-based best practice
programs for mental health services improvements.
   (4) The ability of the campus to serve underserved and vulnerable
populations, including, but not limited to, lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, questioning, and allied (LGBTQA) persons, victims of
domestic violence and sexual abuse, and veterans.
   (5) The ability of the campus to reduce racial disparities in
access to mental health services.
   (b) Grants may be awarded to a campus in the California Community
College system, the California State University system, or the
University of California system. The scale of the program shall
determine the amount awarded, but in no case shall the department
award more than five million dollars ($5,000,000) per campus, per
application.
   (c) Grants shall only be awarded to a campus that can show a
dollar-for-dollar match of funds from the campus.
   (d) The department and CalMHSA may provide technical assistance to
smaller colleges and counties in the application process to ensure
equitable distribution of the grant award.
   5832.2.  (a) Community colleges and campuses in the California
State University system that have been awarded grants pursuant to
this part shall report annually to the Chancellor's Office and
campuses in the University of California system shall report annually
to the University of California Office of the President on the use
of grant funds. This report shall include, but not be limited to, all
of the following:
   (1) How grant funds and matching revenues are being used.
   (2) Available evaluation data, including outcomes of the campus
mental health programs funded pursuant to the grant program.
   (3) Program information regarding services being offered and the
number of individuals being served.
   (b) The Chancellor's Office and the University of California
Office of the President shall forward the reports of the campuses
required pursuant to subdivision (a), at one time annually, to the
department, CalMHSA, and the Legislature for evaluation of the grant
program.