BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 174
Page 1
GOVERNOR'S VETO
AB 174 (Bonta)
As Amended September 3, 2013
2/3 vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |52-24|(May 29, 2013) |SENATE: |29-10|(September 9, |
| | | | | |2013) |
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|ASSEMBLY: |53-24|(September 10, | | | |
| | |2013) | | | |
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Original Committee Reference: HEALTH
SUMMARY : Requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to
establish a pilot program in Alameda County, to the extent that
funding is made available, to provide grants to eligible
applicants for activities and services that directly address the
mental health and related needs of students impacted by trauma.
The Senate amendments delete the local mandate and clarify that
Alameda County has the authority to decide the extent to which
it will participate in the pilot program. Clarify that funding
is limited to non-state funds only and that DPH may work with
private entities to facilitate the granting of funds to grantees
in the pilot program.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, unknown costs to provide grants (federal funds or
private funds). This bill specifies that the program would be
limited to a one-year pilot project in Alameda County at up to
10 facilities. However, this bill does not specify the total
amount of funding or the potential fund source. Unknown costs
to administer the program (federal funds or private funds).
Typically, the cost to administer a grant program is about 5% of
total grant spending.
AB 174
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COMMENTS : The author states that it is well documented that
appropriate mental health services can have a positive and
lasting impact on short- and long-term outcomes for children and
adolescents impacted by trauma. However, the author notes that
many children and youth in California lack access to the health
and mental health services they need and California's 200 school
health centers (SHCs) address this gap by putting medical,
mental health, and/or dental care on school grounds.
Approximately 75% of SHCs have mental health providers on staff
to offer mental health assessments, crisis intervention, brief
and long-term therapy, and other services. The National
Assembly on School-Based Care (NASBC) states that Congress
recognized the importance of SHCs as a key link in the nation's
health care safety net by providing $50 million a year for four
years in one-time funding for construction, renovation, and
equipment for SHCs in the federal Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act (ACA) and more than 350 applicants from
around the nation are seeking funding through the first round of
competitive grants created under the ACA.
According to the California School Health Centers Association
(CSHCA) there are currently 200 SHCs in California. Forty-four
percent of SHCs are in high schools; 31% are in elementary
schools; 13% are in middle schools; and, 12% are "school-linked"
or are mobile medical vans. CSHCA points out that many SHCs are
located in schools serving some of the state's most vulnerable
children and on campuses with SHCs about 70% of students receive
free or reduced price meals.
GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE :
Assembly Bill 174 aims to establish a pilot program in
Alameda County, using non-state funds to provide
school-based mental health services for students
impacted by trauma.
I support the efforts of the bill but am returning it
without my signature, as Alameda County can establish
such a program without state intervention and may even
AB 174
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be able to use Mental Health Services Act funding to
do so.
Waiting for the state to act may cause unnecessary
delays in delivering valuable mental health services
to students. All counties-not just Alameda-should
explore all potential funding options, including
Mental Health Services Act funds, to tailor programs
that best meet local needs.
Analysis Prepared by : Lara Flynn / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097
FN: 0002895