Bill Text: CA SB389 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Mental Health Services Act.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-08-30 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 209, Statutes of 2019. [SB389 Detail]

Download: California-2019-SB389-Chaptered.html

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Senate Bill No. 389

CHAPTER 209

An act to amend Section 5813.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to mental health, and making an appropriation therefor.

[ Approved by Governor  August 30, 2019. Filed with Secretary of State  August 30, 2019. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 389, Hertzberg. Mental Health Services Act.

Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), an initiative statute enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, establishes the continuously appropriated Mental Health Services Fund to fund various county mental health programs. Existing law prohibits MHSA moneys from being used to pay for persons incarcerated in state prison or parolees from state prisons.

Existing law authorizes the act to be amended by a ²/₃ vote of the Legislature if the amendments are consistent with, and further the intent of, the act. Existing law authorizes the Legislature to add provisions to clarify procedures and terms of the act by majority vote.

This bill would amend the act to authorize the counties to use MHSA moneys to provide services to persons who are participating in a presentencing or postsentencing diversion program or who are on parole, probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision. By authorizing a new use of continuously appropriated moneys, this bill would make an appropriation. The bill would state the finding of the Legislature that this act is consistent with, and furthers the intent of, the Mental Health Services Act.

Digest Key

Vote: 2/3   Appropriation: YES   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 5813.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

5813.5.

 Subject to the availability of funds from the Mental Health Services Fund, the state shall distribute funds for the provision of services under Sections 5801, 5802, and 5806 to county mental health programs. Services shall be available to adults and seniors with severe illnesses who meet the eligibility criteria in subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 5600.3. For purposes of this act, “seniors” means older adult persons identified in Part 3 (commencing with Section 5800) of this division.

(a) Funding shall be provided at sufficient levels to ensure that counties can provide each adult and senior served pursuant to this part with the medically necessary mental health services, medications, and supportive services set forth in the applicable treatment plan.

(b) The funding shall only cover the portions of those costs of services that cannot be paid for with other funds, including other mental health funds, public and private insurance, and other local, state, and federal funds.

(c) Each county mental health program’s plan shall provide for services in accordance with the system of care for adults and seniors who meet the eligibility criteria in subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 5600.3.

(d) Planning for services shall be consistent with the philosophy, principles, and practices of the Recovery Vision for mental health consumers:

(1) To promote concepts key to the recovery for individuals who have mental illness: hope, personal empowerment, respect, social connections, self-responsibility, and self-determination.

(2) To promote consumer-operated services as a way to support recovery.

(3) To reflect the cultural, ethnic, and racial diversity of mental health consumers.

(4) To plan for each consumer’s individual needs.

(e) The plan for each county mental health program shall indicate, subject to the availability of funds as determined by Part 4.5 (commencing with Section 5890) of this division, and other funds available for mental health services, adults and seniors with a severe mental illness being served by this program are either receiving services from this program or have a mental illness that is not sufficiently severe to require the level of services required of this program.

(f) Each county plan and annual update pursuant to Section 5847 shall consider ways to provide services similar to those established pursuant to the Mentally Ill Offender Crime Reduction Grant Program. Funds shall not be used to pay for persons incarcerated in state prison. Funds may be used to provide services to persons who are participating in a presentencing or postsentencing diversion program or who are on parole, probation, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision. When included in county plans pursuant to Section 5847, funds may be used for the provision of mental health services under Sections 5347 and 5348 in counties that elect to participate in the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Demonstration Project Act of 2002 (Article 9 (commencing with Section 5345) of Chapter 2 of Part 1).

(g) The department shall contract for services with county mental health programs pursuant to Section 5897. After November 2, 2004, the term “grants,” as used in Sections 5814 and 5814.5, shall refer to those contracts.

SEC. 2.

 The Legislature finds and declares that this act is consistent with, and furthers the intent of, the Mental Health Services Act within the meaning of Section 18 of the Mental Health Services Act.