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SB-688 Mental Health Services Act: revenue and expenditure reports.(2017-2018)

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Date Published: 09/17/2018 09:00 PM
SB688:v93#DOCUMENT

Senate Bill No. 688
CHAPTER 403

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

[ Approved by Governor  September 14, 2018. Filed with Secretary of State  September 14, 2018. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 688, Moorlach. Mental Health Services Act: revenue and expenditure reports.
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 and establishes the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission to oversee those programs. Existing law requires the State Department of Health Care Services, in consultation with the 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 counties to electronically submit the report to the department and the commission. Existing law authorizes the Legislature to add provisions to clarify procedures and terms of the MHSA by majority vote.
This bill would additionally require counties to adhere to uniform accounting standards and procedures prescribed by the Controller, as specified, in preparing the reports, with the exception of expenditures or receipts related to capital facilities and technology needs. The bill would instead require those receipts and expenditures to be reported using the cash basis of accounting. By imposing a higher level of service on counties, the 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. With the exception of expenditures and receipts related to the capital facilities and technology needs component described in paragraph (6) of subdivision (d), each county shall adhere to uniform accounting standards and procedures that conform to the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles prescribed by the Controller pursuant to Section 30200 of the Government Code when accounting for receipts and expenditures of Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funds in preparing the report. Counties shall report receipts and expenditures related to capital facilities and technology needs using the cash basis of accounting, which recognizes expenditures at the time payment is made. Each county shall electronically submit the report 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 in a text-searchable format 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 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.