Amended  IN  Assembly  March 23, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill No. 2619

Introduced by Assembly Member Travis Allen

February 15, 2018

An act to amend Section 5878.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to mental health services. services, and making an appropriation therefor.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2619, as amended, Travis Allen. Severely mentally ill children. Mental health services funding: homeless persons.
Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act, an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, funds a system of county mental health plans for the provision of mental health services, as specified. The act establishes the continuously appropriated Mental Health Services Fund to fund various county mental health programs by imposing a tax of 1% on annual incomes above $1,000,000. The act requires the State Department of Health Care Services to implement specified mental health services provided under the act through contracts with county mental health programs or counties acting jointly, as prescribed. The act provides that it may be amended by the Legislature by a 2/3 vote of each house as long as the amendment is consistent with and furthers the intent of the act, and that the Legislature may also clarify procedures and terms of the act by majority vote. Among other provisions, the existing act declares the intent to establish programs that ensure services are provided to severely mentally ill children, as defined, and that those services are part of the children’s system of care, as specified. Existing law requires county mental health programs to develop plans for innovative programs, and provides for funding for these programs from the Mental Health Services Fund.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions. appropriate $10,000,000 from the General Fund to the State Department of Health Care Services to be distributed to counties for the purpose of funding innovative programs to provide mental health services to California’s homeless population.
Vote: MAJORITY2/3   Appropriation: NOYES   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 The sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the State Department of Health Care Services. The department shall allocate the appropriated funds to county mental health programs for the purpose of funding innovative programs, consistent with Section 5830 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to provide mental health services to California’s homeless population.
SECTION 1.Section 5878.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:
5878.1.

(a)It is the intent of this article to establish programs that ensure services will be provided to severely mentally ill children, as defined in Section 5878.2, and that they be part of the children’s system of care established pursuant to this part. It is the intent of this act that services provided under this chapter to severely mentally ill children are accountable, developed in partnership with youth and their families, culturally competent, and individualized to the strengths and needs of each child and his or her family.

(b)This act does not authorize any services to be provided to a minor without the consent of the child’s parent or legal guardian beyond those already authorized by existing statute.