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

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-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 2017	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 30, 2016

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 amended, 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   Account,  would 
appropriate   transfer  an unspecified amount
annually to that account from the Mental Health Services Fund, 
and would appropriate those funds  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.  The
bill would make other finding and declarations. 
   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.   (a)    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. 
   (b) Students, faculty, health practitioners, and college
administrators are reporting increased rates of mental health needs
by students attending public colleges in California.  
   (c) One in four students have a diagnosable mental illness and 40
percent of students do not seek mental health when they need it.
 
   (d) Eight out of 10 people who experience psychosis have their
first episode between 15 and 30 years of age.  
   (e) The demand for mental health services by public college
students far outpaces the ability of colleges to provide them.
California public college campuses and higher education systems do
not meet national staffing standards for psychiatric services and
other mental health professionals.  
   (f) The lack of services directly impacts college students'
success and academic performance as well as their ability to develop
socially as productive members of society.  
   (g) The effects of untreated mental health needs are long lasting
and can include college students dropping out of school, experiencing
homelessness, and dying of suicide.  
   (h) One in 10 college students has considered suicide and suicide
is the second leading cause of death among college students, claiming
more than 1,100 lives every year nationally.  
   (i) Research shows that for each dollar invested in student
prevention and early intervention mental health services, California
will see a return of at least six dollars ($6) and up to eleven
dollars ($11) as a result of more students graduating. 
  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.  This part shall be known, and may be cited, as the College
Mental Health Services Program Act. 
    5832.   5832.1.   (a) There is hereby
established in the State Treasury the College Mental Health Services
Trust  Account to be used by   Account.
Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, moneys in the
account are hereby continuously appropriated to  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.   5832.2.   (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.   and early
identification or intervention programs.  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  and
community defined  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. 
   (6) The ability of the campus to fund mental health stigma
reduction activities.  
   (7) The ability of the campus to provide employees and students
with education and training on early identification, intervention,
and referral of students with mental health needs. 
   (b) Grants may be awarded to a  campus  
community college district  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.   5832.3.   (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  respective  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  
funds  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   offices 
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.