Bill Text: CA AB477 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Behavioral Health Stakeholder Advisory Panel.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Failed) 2018-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB477 Detail]
Download: California-2017-AB477-Amended.html
|
Amended
IN
Assembly
March 23, 2017 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION
| Assembly Bill | No. 477 |
| Introduced by Assembly Member Ridley-Thomas |
February 13, 2017 |
An act relating to mental health. to add Division 3.75 (commencing with Section 3550) to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to behavioral health services.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 477, as amended, Ridley-Thomas.
Community mental health services. Behavioral Health Stakeholder Advisory Panel.
Existing law provides for the California Health and Human Services Agency, which includes, among other agencies, the State Department of Health Care Services, the State Department of Developmental Services, and the Department of Managed Health Care. Under existing law, various state and local agencies are responsible for providing or arranging for the provision of behavioral health services to adults and children in the state.
This bill would establish the Behavioral Health Stakeholder Advisory Panel, an independent, statewide advisory board to provide ongoing advice and assistance on behavioral health program needs and priorities to the California Health
and Human Services Agency, including making recommendations on actions to improve the collaboration and processes of the multiple agencies involved in California’s behavioral health delivery system. The bill would specify the membership of the panel, as appointed by the Secretary of California Health and Human Services, and members of the advisory panel would serve on a voluntary basis, without compensation. The bill would set forth the minimum powers and duties of the advisory panel and the agency. The bill would require the panel to annually report to the Legislature on the advisory panel’s accomplishments, effectiveness, efficiency, including any recommendations for statutory changes needed to improve the effective delivery of behavioral health services in the state and the ability of the advisory panel to fulfill its purpose. The bill would be implemented only to the extent that funding from nonstate sources is received for its purposes.
Existing law contains provisions governing the operation and financing of community mental health services for the mentally disordered in every county through locally administered and locally controlled community mental health programs.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to enable the provision of prompt evaluation and treatment of persons with a mental health disorder, a substance use disorder, or both, to protect public safety, and to encourage the full use of all existing agencies, professional personnel, and public funds.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee:Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Division 3.75 (commencing with Section 3550) is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:DIVISION 3.75. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY PANEL
3550.
The Behavioral Health Stakeholder Advisory Panel is hereby established as an independent, statewide advisory board that shall provide ongoing advice and assistance on behavioral health program needs and priorities to the California Health and Human Services Agency, including making recommendations on actions to improve the collaboration and processes of the multiple agencies involved in California’s behavioral health delivery system.3551.
(a) (1) The members of the advisory panel shall be appointed by the Secretary of California Health and Human Services and shall serve on a voluntary basis and without compensation.(2) The advisory panel shall consist of at least seven members. At least one member shall be appointed from each of the following:
(A) The mental health provider community.
(B) The substance abuse provider community.
(C) The county public health provider community.
(D) The health plan
community.
(E) The patient advocacy community.
(F) The law enforcement community.
(G) The education community.
(3) The advisory panel shall elect a chairperson from among its members.
(b) The advisory panel’s powers and duties include, but are not limited to, both of the following:
(1) To advise the Secretary of California Health and Human Services on all policies, regulations, and operations of the various agencies involved in the delivery of behavioral health services in the state.
(2) To meet at least quarterly, unless deemed unnecessary by the
chairperson.
(c) The California Health and Human Services Agency’s powers and duties shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) To provide general support and staff assistance to the advisory panel.
(2) To convene and attend meetings of the advisory panel at least quarterly, unless deemed unnecessary by the chairperson, at locations that are easily accessible to the public and advisory panel members, are of sufficient duration for presentation, discussion, and public comment on each agenda item, and are in accordance with the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).
3552.
(a) The advisory panel shall submit an annual report to the Legislature on the advisory panel’s accomplishments, effectiveness, efficiency, including any recommendations for statutory changes needed to improve the effective delivery of behavioral health services in the state and the ability of the advisory panel to fulfill its purpose.(b) A report submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
3553.
This division shall be implemented only to the extent that funding from nonstate sources is received for its purposes.It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to enable the provision of prompt evaluation and treatment of persons with a mental health disorder, substance use disorder, or both, to protect public safety, and to encourage the full use of all existing agencies, professional personnel, and public funds.
