BILL NUMBER: AB 866	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Yamada

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2011

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


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 866, as introduced, Yamada. Community mental health: Mental
Health Services Fund.
   Existing law contains provisions governing the operation and
financing of community mental health services for the mentally
disordered in every county through locally administered and locally
controlled community mental health programs. Existing law, the Mental
Health Services Act, an initiative measure enacted by the voters as
Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election,
establishes the Mental Health Services Fund to fund various county
mental health programs and requires the department to adopt
regulations to implement the program. The act provides that it may be
amended by the Legislature by a 2/3 vote of each house as long as
the amendment is consistent with and furthers the intent of the act,
and that the Legislature may also clarify procedures and terms of the
act by majority vote.
   This bill would authorize the department to specify alternative
procedures for small counties for purposes of regulations relating to
the act, and would define "small county" as a county with a
population of less than 250,000 people according to the most recent
Department of Finance projection. The bill would state the finding of
the Legislature that the measure clarifies a term or procedure for
purposes of the Mental Health Services Act.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 5899 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:
   5899.  In adopting regulations pursuant to Section 5898 the
department may specify alternative procedures for small countries.
For the purpose, "small county" means a county that has a population
of less than 250,000 people according to the most recent Department
of Finance projection.
  SEC. 2.  The Legislature finds and declares that this measure
clarifies a term or procedure of the Mental Health Services Act
within the meaning of Section 18 of that act.