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 Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, which consists of 16 members, to oversee the administration of various parts of the act. Existing law authorizes the commission to undertake specified activities in carrying out its duties and responsibilities. Existing law authorizes the MHSA to be amended by a ²/₃ vote of the Legislature if the amendments are consistent with, and further the purposes of, the MHSA, and also permits the Legislature to clarify procedures and terms of the MHSA by a majority vote.

Under existing law, the information obtained in the administration of the Unemployment Insurance Code is for the exclusive use and information of the Director of Employment Development in the discharge of his or her duties and is not open to the public. However, existing law permits the use of the information for specified purposes, and allows the director to require reimbursement for direct costs incurred.

This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to authorize the commission to receive information held by other state agencies, as it relates to outcomes established under the MHSA or adopted by the commission under the MHSA for the purposes of monitoring those outcomes and improving the mental health system. The bill would authorize the Director of Employment Development to share information to enable the commission to receive quarterly wage data of mental health consumers served by the California public mental health system for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating employment outcomes to determine the effectiveness of those services.

This bill would declare that it clarifies procedures and terms of the Mental Health Services Act.