Bill Text: CA AB2397 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 2397 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Mental health: state hospitals: staff-to-patient ratios.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-08-16 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB2397 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AB2397-Amended.html

BILL NUMBER: AB 2397	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 5, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 25, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 24, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Allen

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2012

   An act to add and repeal Section 4140 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, relating to mental health.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2397, as amended, Allen. Mental health: state hospitals:
 ancillary clinical  staff-to-patient ratios.
   Existing law provides for state hospitals for the care, treatment,
and education of mentally disordered persons. These hospitals are
under the jurisdiction of the State Department of  Mental
Health   State Hospitals  , which is authorized by
existing law to adopt regulations regarding the conduct and
management of these facilities.
   This bill would require the department to reimburse an independent
entity to conduct a review and analysis of staffing ratios to
determine the appropriate levels for effective patient treatment, and
would require a report with findings to be submitted to the
Legislature by August 1, 2013.
   This bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2015.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 4140 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:
   4140.  (a) (1) To the extent permitted by the California
Constitution and Section 19130 of the Government Code, the State
Department of  Mental Health   State Hospitals
 shall reimburse an independent entity for the purposes of
conducting a review and analysis of staffing ratios to determine the
appropriate levels for effective patient treatment. The State
Department of  Mental Health   State Hospitals
 shall provide information to this entity as necessary for it to
complete its analysis and provide recommendations. It is the intent
of the Legislature that the State Department of  Mental
Health   State Hospitals  request the independent
entity to complete this analysis by  March  
June 1, 2013. A report shall be submitted to the Legislature by
August 1, 2013, regarding the independent entity's findings to ensure
state hospitals are making progress and to enable the Legislature to
consider further action that may be necessary during the subsequent
legislative year.
   (2) A report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
   (b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2015, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2015, deletes or extends
that date.