Bill Text: CA AR107 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relative to behavioral health care.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-07-03 - Read. Adopted. (Ayes 72. Noes 0. Page 6157.). [AR107 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AR107-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
House Resolution
No. 107
| Introduced by Assembly Member Waldron |
June 12, 2024 |
Relative to behavioral health care.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
HR 107, as introduced, Waldron.
Digest Key
Bill Text
WHEREAS, Nearly one in seven adults in California experiences a behavioral health challenge, indicating a significant portion of the population is affected by mental health conditions; and
WHEREAS, One in 26 Californians has a serious behavioral health challenge that significantly hinders their ability to conduct daily activities; and
WHEREAS, The socioeconomically disadvantaged regions in California not only have the highest rates of serious behavioral health challenges, but also struggle to staff licensed mental health professionals, demonstrating the necessity for targeted mental health interventions in disadvantaged communities; and
WHEREAS, The suicide rate in California, although below the national average, significantly varies among different counties, races, ethnicities, and genders, indicating the need for a localized approach; and
WHEREAS, Roughly two-thirds of adults and adolescents with behavioral health challenges in California do not receive treatment; and
WHEREAS, The rates of anxiety, depression, or both have risen by 70 percent since 2017, with a 20 percent increase in adolescent suicides within California; and
WHEREAS, The 2024 California Health Care Foundation California Health Policy Survey states that two-thirds of Californians believe improvements are needed in the mental health care system of the state; and
WHEREAS, In the United States, 15.35 percent of adults had a substance use disorder in the past year, of which 93.5 percent of them did not receive any form of treatment, and in 2019–20, 20.78 percent of adults experienced a behavioral health challenge, both of which statistics indicate a need for early intervention; and
WHEREAS, California has invested heavily in reactive responses to behavioral health challenges rather than in prevention and intervention at the earliest opportunities, and by investment in prevention, early intervention, and a continuum of services available in every community, Californians with behavioral health needs can avoid the need for acute care, hospitalization, incarceration, and institutionalization; and
WHEREAS, The importance of addressing disparate, fragmented care for people with behavioral health needs is crucial; and
WHEREAS, California is urged to address established practices and investments by creating a statewide minimum standard for behavioral health care, one that emphasizes prevention and early intervention; and
WHEREAS, This proposed minimum standard for behavioral health care gives equal access to a variety of interrelated elements of prevention and care, regardless of where individuals reside and who insures them; and
WHEREAS, To be successful in addressing this crisis, strategies must mirror those made in primary health care, where the goal is to prevent behavioral health conditions and detect early warning signs as soon as possible; and
WHEREAS, The concept of “flipping the triangle” in mental health care seeks to invert the existing model, by prioritizing early prevention rather than crisis management, establishing a baseline for prevention and early intervention, identifying gaps in service, and ensuring equitable access and consistent quality of care across counties and across plans; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly recognizes the importance of “flipping the triangle” in the mental health care model by prioritizing early intervention and prevention; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly provide copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
