AB 573

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law, the Bronzan-McCorquodale Act, 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. Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) , an initiative measure 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. The MHSA also establishes the Mental Health Oversight and Accountability Commission and requires counties to engage in specified planning activities, including creating and updating a 3-year program and expenditure plan through a stakeholder process. This bill would establish the California Youth Mental Health Board (state board) within the California Health and Human Services Agency to advise the Governor and Legislature on the challenges facing youth with mental health needs and determine opportunities for improvement. The state board would be comprised of 15 members who are between 15 and 23 years of age, appointed as specified, at least half of whom are youth mental health consumers who are receiving, or have received, mental health services, or siblings or immediate family members of mental health consumers. The bill would specify the powers and duties of the state board, including reviewing program performance in the delivery of mental health and substance use disorder services for youth. This bill would require each community mental health service to have a local youth mental health board (board) , appointed as specified, consisting of members between 15 and 23 years of age, at least half of whom are, to the extent possible, mental health consumers who are receiving, or have received, mental health services, or siblings or close family members of mental health consumers and half of whom are, to the extent possible, enrolled in schools in the county. The bill would require the board, among other duties, to advise the county mental health programs, school districts, and other entities on issues relating to youth mental health and to review and advise on the procedures used to ensure youth involvement at all stages of the mental health planning process for the county's 3-year program and expenditure plan. The bill would require the board to be involved in the program and expenditure plan planning process. The bill would require the county to provide a budget for the board, as specified. By increasing the duties of local governments, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, on or before December 30, 2024, and once every 5 years thereafter, to assess the extent to which the local youth boards have been established and to make recommendations on ways to strengthen the youth voice to support appropriate behavioral health services. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.