AB 2679, as introduced, Logue. County mental health services: baseline reports.
Existing law governs 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. The act requires each county mental health program to prepare and submit a 3-year program and expenditure plan, to be updated at least annually, to the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission within 30 days of adoption.
This bill would, until January 1, 2025, additionally require the State Department of Health Care Services, in cooperation with county mental health directors and appropriate state and county officials, to develop a baseline report on system quality and access to services in each county’s mental health plan, as specified. The bill would require the state, on or before July 1, 2015, to issue requirements for each county to establish baseline reports on system quality and access to services provided by county mental health plans. The bill requires the baseline measures to include, among other things, the number of mental health clients served by category, as specified, and the identification of service priorities that should be developed or expanded to meet community needs.
The bill would require each county, on or before January 1, 2016, to submit a baseline report to the department on the efficacy of the county’s mental health plan, as specified, for the 2014-15 fiscal year. The bill would require the report to include expenditures from all revenue streams. The bill would require the department, on or before June 30, 2016, to report to the Legislature on the baseline measure of system quality and access to services provided by the county baseline reports. The bill would require counties to submit a 2nd baseline report to the department by January 1, 2020, for the 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19 fiscal years, and require the department to again report to the Legislature on the baseline measure of system quality and access to services provided by the county baseline reports on or before June 30, 2020. By requiring additional reports from counties, 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 these statutory provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
It is the intent of the Legislature to establish a
2baseline report that shall inform public officials and stakeholders
3of each county’s accessible mental illness treatments and supports,
4identified unmet needs, and the status of system integration and
5collaboration. This baseline report shall inform future investments
6in spending and programs of county mental health plans for
7cost-efficient and effective integration of all mental health funding
8streams.
Section 5847.5 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
10Code, to read:
(a) The State Department of Health Care Services, in
2cooperation with county mental health directors and appropriate
3state and county officials, shall develop a baseline report of system
4quality and access to services in each county’s mental health plan.
5The baseline report shall include documentation of services funded
6by all revenue sources, including county overmatch and any other
7sources.
8(b) On or before July 1, 2015, the state shall issue requirements
9for each county to establish a baseline report on system quality
10and access to services provided by county mental health plans.
11Baseline reports shall include, but not be limited to, all of the
12following:
13(1) The number of
mental health clients served by county mental
14health plans that serve individuals who meet diagnostic criteria
15for access to county mental health systems, based upon system of
16care standards and accepted continuum of care models for children,
17and adults and older adults. The number of mental health clients
18served shall be categorized by children, adults and older adults,
19and unmet need.
20(2) The identification of service priorities that should be
21developed or expanded in order to meet community needs.
22(3) Staff-to-client ratios for the majority of outpatient clients,
23the number of days a client waits to see the clinician after seeking
24treatment, the average wait between physician visits, access to
25individual and group therapies, and access to supportive housing.
26(4) A description and the impact of established programs
to
27reduce crisis-driven spending, such as programs to reduce repeated
28hospitalizations, incarcerations, injuries, and deaths.
29(5) For the three most recent years available, the number and
30percentage of county jail populations that have a diagnosis of
31mental illness, county suicide rates, and increases or reductions in
32law enforcement involvement in mental health crisis calls,
33including the number of commitments pursuant to Section 5150.
34(6) The percentage and amount of county revenue devoted to
35the cost of treatment for individuals in locked facilities.
36(c) (1) On or before January 1, 2016, each county shall, for the
372014-15 fiscal year, submit to the department a baseline report on
38the efficacy of the county’s mental health care plan, including
39county-operated programs and county-contracted
services. The
40report shall include expenditures from all revenue streams.
P4 1(2) On or before June 30, 2016, the department shall report to
2the Legislature on the baseline measure of system quality and
3access to services provided by the counties pursuant to paragraph
4(1). The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795
5of the Government Code.
6(3) The requirement for submitting a report imposed pursuant
7to paragraph (2) is inoperative on July 1, 2020, pursuant to Section
810231.5 of the Government Code.
9(d) (1) On or before January 1, 2020, a second baseline report
10shall be conducted by counties for the 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18,
11and 2018-19 fiscal years and submitted to the department. The
12report shall include the information described in paragraph (1) of
13subdivision (c).
14(2) On or before June 30, 2020, the department shall report to
15the Legislature on the baseline measure of system quality and
16access to services provided by the counties pursuant to paragraph
17(1). The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795
18of the Government Code.
19(3) The requirement for submitting a report imposed pursuant
20to paragraph (2) is inoperative on July 1, 2024, pursuant to Section
2110231.5 of the Government Code.
22(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2025,
23and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
24is enacted before January 1, 2025, deletes or extends that date.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that
26this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
27local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
28pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
294 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
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