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AB-974 Mental Health Services Act: reporting veterans spending.(2017-2018)

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Date Published: 10/02/2017 09:00 PM
AB974:v95#DOCUMENT

Assembly Bill No. 974
CHAPTER 411

An act to amend Section 5899 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to mental health.

[ Approved by Governor  October 02, 2017. Filed with Secretary of State  October 02, 2017. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 974, Quirk-Silva. Mental Health Services Act: reporting veterans spending.
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. Existing law requires the State Department of Health Care Services, in consultation with the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, to develop and administer instructions for the Annual Mental Health Services Act Revenue and Expenditure Report, which gathers specified information on mental health spending as a result of the MHSA, including the expenditures of funds distributed to each county. Existing law requires the counties to submit the required data and to certify the accuracy of the report.
This bill would require counties to report spending on mental health services for veterans from MHSA funds. By requiring a county to report additional information regarding the use of MHSA funds, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
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.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 5899 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

5899.
 (a) The State Department of Health Care Services, in consultation with the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, shall develop and administer instructions for the Annual Mental Health Services Act Revenue and Expenditure Report. The instructions shall include a requirement that the county certify the accuracy of this report. This report shall be submitted electronically to the department and to the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. The department and the commission shall annually post each county’s report on its Internet Web site in a timely manner.
(b) The department, in consultation with the commission and the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, shall revise the instructions described in subdivision (a) by July 1, 2017, and as needed thereafter, to improve the timely and accurate submission of county revenue and expenditure data.
(c) The purpose of the Annual Mental Health Services Act Revenue and Expenditure Report is as follows:
(1) Identify the expenditures of Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funds that were distributed to each county.
(2) Quantify the amount of additional funds generated for the mental health system as a result of the MHSA.
(3) Identify unexpended funds, and interest earned on MHSA funds.
(4) Determine reversion amounts, if applicable, from prior fiscal year distributions.
(d) This report is intended to provide information that allows for the evaluation of all of the following:
(1) Children’s systems of care.
(2) Prevention and early intervention strategies.
(3) Innovative projects.
(4) Workforce education and training.
(5) Adults and older adults systems of care.
(6) Capital facilities and technology needs.
(e) If a county does not submit the annual revenue and expenditure report described in subdivision (a) by the required deadline, the department may withhold MHSA funds until the reports are submitted.
(f) A county shall also report the amount of MHSA funds that were spent on mental health services for veterans.
(g) By October 1, 2018, and by October 1 of each subsequent year, the department shall, in consultation with counties, publish on its Internet Web site a report detailing funds subject to reversion by county and by originally allocated purpose. The report also shall include the date on which the funds will revert to the Mental Health Services Fund.

SEC. 2.

 If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.