Existing law provides for various mental and behavioral health programs that are administered by the counties. 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 to oversee the provisions of the MHSA and review the county plans for MHSA spending. Existing law requires the State Department of Health Care Services, in consultation with the commission and other entities, to develop and administer instructions for the Annual Mental Health Services Act Revenue and Expenditure Report, which identifies and evaluates county mental health programs funded by the MHSA.

This bill would require, to the extent the Legislature makes an appropriation for these provisions, the commission, in consultation with state and local mental health authorities, to create a comprehensive tracking program for county spending on mental and behavioral health programs and services, as specified, including funding sources, funding utilization, and outcome data at the program, service, and statewide levels. The bill would require each county to report specified data for the preceding fiscal year to the commission on or before July 31 of each year. to the commission in a manner and on a timeline determined by the commission. The bill would require the commission, no later than January 1, 2023, to submit a progress report to the Governor’s office and the Legislature. The bill would also require the commission to report the results of the county reporting for the preceding fiscal year to the Governor’s office and the Legislature on or before September 1 of each year, on or before January 1, 2024, and annually thereafter on a date determined by the commission, and to publish that information on its internet website in a location accessible to the public. The bill would require the commission to promulgate regulations, but would authorize the commission to implement these provisions by all-county letter until final regulations are adopted. By requiring additional reporting from the counties to the extent these provisions are implemented, 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.