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AB-2315 Mental health: programs for seriously emotionally disturbed children and court wards and dependents.(2023-2024)

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Date Published: 02/12/2024 09:00 PM
AB2315:v99#DOCUMENT


CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 2315


Introduced by Assembly Member Lowenthal

February 12, 2024


An act to amend Section 4094.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to mental health.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2315, as introduced, Lowenthal. Mental health: programs for seriously emotionally disturbed children and court wards and dependents.
Existing law generally provides for the placement of foster youth in various placement settings and governs the provision of child welfare services, as specified. Existing law, the California Community Care Facilities Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of community care facilities, including community treatment facilities (CTFs) by the State Department of Social Services.
Existing law requires the State Department of Health Care Services to adopt certain regulations for CTFs, including, among others, that only seriously emotionally disturbed children, as defined, either (1) for whom other less restrictive mental health interventions have been tried, as specified, or (2) who are currently placed in an acute psychiatric hospital or state hospital or in a facility outside the state for mental health treatment, and who may require periods of containment to participate in, and benefit from, mental health treatment, shall be placed in a CTF.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 4094.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

4094.5.
 Regulations for community treatment facilities adopted pursuant to Section 4094 shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) Only seriously emotionally disturbed children, as defined in Section 5699.2, either (1) for whom other less restrictive mental health interventions have been tried, as documented in the case plan, or (2) who are currently placed in an acute psychiatric hospital or state hospital or in a facility outside the state for mental health treatment, and who may require periods of containment to participate in, and benefit from, mental health treatment, shall be placed in a community treatment facility. For purposes of this subdivision, lesser restrictive interventions shall include, but are not limited to, outpatient therapy, family counseling, case management, family preservation efforts, special education classes, or nonpublic schooling.
(b) A facility shall have the capacity to provide secure containment. For purposes of this section, a facility or an area of a facility shall be defined as secure if residents are not permitted to leave the premises of their own volition. All or part of a facility, including its perimeter, but not a room alone, may be locked or secure. If a facility uses perimeter fencing, all beds within the perimeter shall be considered secure beds. All beds outside of a locked or secure wing or facility shall be considered nonsecure beds.
(c) A locked or secure program in a facility shall not be used for disciplinary purposes, but shall be used for the protection of the minor. It may be used as a treatment modality for a child needing that level of care. The use of the secure facility program shall be for as short a period as possible, consistent with the child’s case plan and safety. The department shall develop regulations governing the oversight, review, and duration of the use of secure beds.
(d) Fire clearance approval shall be obtained pursuant to Section 1531.2 of the Health and Safety Code.
(e) (1) Prior to admission, any child admitted to a community treatment facility shall have been certified as seriously emotionally disturbed, as defined in Section 5699.2, by a licensed mental health professional.
(A) Except in the case of placement on an emergency basis, as described in subdivision (i) of Section 4096, any child who is a dependent or ward of the juvenile court, is the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 300, has been detained pursuant to Section 636, or is voluntarily placed and the placement is funded by the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care program, shall, prior to admission, have been be determined by a county interagency placement committee to require placement in the community treatment facility, as prescribed by subdivision (e) of Section 4096. A copy of the interagency placement committee determination shall be provided to the facility.
(B) Any child who is a dependent or ward of the juvenile court, is the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 300, has been detained pursuant to Section 636, or is voluntarily placed and the placement is funded by the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care program, shall be assessed by a qualified individual, as defined in subdivision (l) of Section 16501, pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 4096, as needing the level of care provided by a community treatment facility. The assessment by the qualified individual shall occur prior to the child’s admission to the facility, facility or, if delaying placement for the qualified individual’s assessment would be contrary to the child’s well-being, within 30 days after the child began physically residing in the facility. A copy of the completed assessment shall be provided to the facility.
(C) Federal financial participation under the Medi-Cal program shall only be available if all state and federal requirements are met and the treatment is medically necessary. Federal financial participation under the Medi-Cal program shall not be claimed for medical assistance expenditures relating to minors or nonminors detained in a juvenile justice facility, unless expressly permitted under the federal law, or approved under the CalAIM Terms and Conditions as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 14184.101 or the approved terms and conditions of a successor waiver or demonstration project.
(2) Any county cost associated with the certification and the determination provided for in paragraph (1) may be billed as a utilization review expense.