Bill Text: CA AB710 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Veterans: substance abuse and mental health services.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2009-08-27 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB710 Detail]
Download: California-2009-AB710-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 710 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 15, 2009
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 26, 2009
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 22, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Yamada
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Carter)
( Coauthor: Senator Leno
)
FEBRUARY 26, 2009
An act to add Section 703 to the Military and Veterans Code,
relating to military and veterans.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 710, as amended, Yamada. Veterans' Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Fund. Veterans: substance
abuse and mental health services.
Existing law provides benefits for state military veterans.
This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to
submit a grant application to the federal Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
consult with the State Department of Mental Health and the State
Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, as provided, to identify
federal funds that are available for the purposes of funding
community-based organizations, certified by the department, to
provide substance abuse and mental health services to veterans ,
as specified, and to pay reasonable administrative expenses .
This bill would require that all grant money awarded to the
department by SAMHSA be deposited into the Veterans' Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Fund, a special fund the bill would
create, and from which moneys would be appropriated by the
Legislature to the department for purposes of funding community-based
organizations that provide substance abuse and mental health
programs that would benefit California veterans and to pay reasonable
administrative expenses.
This bill would also require the department to develop a process
by which to certify community-based organizations that receive
funding, and require the department to establish criteria of success
for the purpose of determining renewal of funding to those
community-based organizations. The bill would, in counties in which
there are no community-based organizations that serve veterans,
permit a county to apply for a grant to be used for purposes related
to the funding and provision of substance abuse and mental health
services to veterans.
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 703 is added to the Military and Veterans Code,
to read:
703. (a) The department shall submit a grant application to the
federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA) for the purposes of funding community-based organizations,
certified by the department, to provide substance abuse and mental
health services to veterans.
(b) All grant money awarded to the department by SAMHSA, and any
interest earned thereon, shall be deposited into the Veterans'
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Fund, which is hereby
created as a special fund in the State Treasury. Moneys in the fund
shall, upon appropriation by the Legislature, be used by the
department for purposes of funding community-based organizations that
provide substance abuse and mental health programs that, in the
discretion of the secretary, would benefit California veterans and to
pay reasonable administrative expenses.
703. (a) The department shall, on or before June 30, 2010,
and on or before June 30 each year thereafter, consult with the State
Department of Mental Health and the State Department of Alcohol and
Drug Programs to identify federal funds that are available for the
purposes of funding community-based organizations, certified by the
department, that provide substance abuse and mental health services
to veterans that, in the discretion of the secretary, would benefit
California veterans and to pay reasonable administrative expenses.
(b) If federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration funds are identified, the department shall apply for
the funds through the State Department of Mental Health or the State
Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, or both. If other funds are
identified, the department shall apply for the funds directly, to the
extent authorized by state or federal law.
(c) (1) (A) The department shall determine how to allocate
and disburse funds in the Veterans' Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Fund and disburse the funds
specified in subdivision (b) to community-based organizations.
The funds disbursed shall be used only for the purposes of providing
substance abuse and mental health services to veterans, including,
but not limited to, the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder,
including military sexual trauma.
(B) For purposes of this subdivision, "military sexual trauma"
means sexual harassment or physical assault that is of a sexual
nature, which an individual experiences during the time he or she is
in the military.
(2) The department shall develop a certification process by which
to certify community-based organizations that receive funding
pursuant to this section. The department is authorized to adopt
certification standards or conditions that may be required by
SAMHSA the funding agency . Subject to
subdivision (e), only community-based organizations certified by the
department shall be eligible for funding.
(d) Community-based organizations that receive funds pursuant to
this section shall annually prepare a report on the programs and
services supported by those funds. The report shall be submitted to
the department for the purposes of determining renewal of funding to
a community-based organization, based upon criteria for measuring
success established by the department.
(e) In counties where there are no community-based organizations
that serve veterans, a county may apply for a grant under this
section to be used by the county for purposes related to the funding
and provision of substance abuse and mental health services to
veterans.
