BILL NUMBER: AB 2679	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 5, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly  Member   Logue
  Members   Logue   and Nestande 

    (   Coauthors:   Assembly Members 
 Hagman   and Wilk   ) 
    (   Coauthor:   Senator   Vidak
  ) 

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2014

   An act to  add and repeal Section 5847.5 to  
amend Sections 5613 and 5772 of  the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to mental health.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2679, as amended, Logue. County mental health services:
baseline reports. 
   Existing law, the Bronzan-McCorquodale Act, sets out a system of
community mental health care services provided by counties and
administered by the State Department of Health Care Services. The act
requires the Director of Health Care Services to establish a
Performance Outcome Committee, as specified, and requires the
committee to develop measures of performance for evaluating client
outcomes and cost effectiveness of mental health services provided by
counties, as specified. The act requires counties to annually report
data on these performance measures to local mental health advisory
boards and to the director. The act requires the director to annually
make this county performance data available to the Legislature, as
specified.  
   This bill would additionally require the director to annually post
the county performance data described above on the department's
Internet Web site.  
   The act also establishes the California Mental Health Planning
Council, which purpose is to fulfill certain mental health planning
requirements mandated by federal law. The act also requires the
council, among other things, to review program performance in
delivering mental health services based on specified data and
reports, and to report findings and recommendations on programs'
performance annually to the Legislature, the department, and the
local boards.  
   This bill would instead require the council to report findings and
recommendations on the performance of programs in each county
annually to the Legislature, the department, and the local boards,
and to post these findings and recommendations annually on the
council's Internet Web site.  
   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   no  .


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

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to establish a
baseline report that shall inform public officials and stakeholders
of each county's accessible mental illness treatments and supports,
identified unmet needs, and the status of system integration and
collaboration. This baseline report shall inform future investments
in spending and programs of county mental health plans for
cost-efficient and effective integration of all mental health funding
streams.
  SEC. 2.    Section 5613 of the   Welfare and
Institutions Code   is amended to read: 
   5613.  (a) Counties shall annually report data on performance
measures established pursuant to Section 5612 to the local mental
health advisory board and to the Director of  Mental
 Health  Care Services  .
   (b) The Director of  Mental  Health  Care
Services  shall annually make  data on county performance
 available to the Legislature,  no later than March 15,
data on county performance   and post that data on the
department's Internet Web site, by no later than March 15 of each
year  .
   SEC. 3.    Section 5772 of the   Welfare and
Institutions Code   is amended to read: 
   5772.  The California Mental Health Planning Council shall have
the powers and authority necessary to carry out the duties imposed
upon it by this chapter, including, but not limited to, the
following:
   (a) To advocate for effective, quality mental health programs.
   (b) To review, assess, and make recommendations regarding all
components of California's mental health system, and to report as
necessary to the Legislature, the State Department of Health Care
Services, local boards, and local programs.
   (c) To review program performance in delivering mental health
services by annually reviewing performance outcome data as follows:
   (1) To review and approve the performance outcome measures.
   (2) To review the performance of mental health programs based on
performance outcome data and other reports from the State Department
of Health Care Services and other sources.
   (3) To report findings and recommendations on  programs'
  the  performance  of programs in each county
 annually to the Legislature, the State Department of Health
Care Services, and the local boards  , and to post  
those findings and recommendations annually on its Internet Web site
 .
   (4) To identify successful programs for recommendation and for
consideration of replication in other areas. As data and technology
are available, identify programs experiencing difficulties.
   (d) When appropriate, make a finding pursuant to Section 5655 that
a county's performance is failing in a substantive manner. The State
Department of Health Care Services shall investigate and review the
finding, and report the action taken to the Legislature.
   (e) To advise the Legislature, the State Department of Health Care
Services, and county boards on mental health issues and the policies
and priorities that this state should be pursuing in developing its
mental health system.
   (f) To periodically review the state's data systems and paperwork
requirements to ensure that they are reasonable and in compliance
with state and federal law.
   (g) To make recommendations to the State Department of Health Care
Services on the award of grants to county programs to reward and
stimulate innovation in providing mental health services.
   (h) To conduct public hearings on the state mental health plan,
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration block
grant, and other topics, as needed.
   (i) In conjunction with other statewide and local mental health
organizations, assist in the coordination of training and information
to local mental health boards as needed to ensure that they can
effectively carry out their duties.
   (j) To advise the Director of Health Care Services on the
development of the state mental health plan and the system of
priorities contained in that plan.
   (k) To assess periodically the effect of realignment of mental
health services and any other important changes in the state's mental
health system, and to report its findings to the Legislature, the
State Department of Health Care Services, local programs, and local
boards, as appropriate.
   (l) To suggest rules, regulations, and standards for the
administration of this division.
   (m) When requested, to mediate disputes between counties and the
state arising under this part.
   (n) To employ administrative, technical, and other personnel
necessary for the performance of its powers and duties, subject to
the approval of the Department of Finance.
   (o) To accept any federal fund granted, by act of Congress or by
executive order, for purposes within the purview of the California
Mental Health Planning Council, subject to the approval of the
Department of Finance.
   (p) To accept any gift, donation, bequest, or grants of funds from
private and public agencies for all or any of the purposes within
the purview of the California Mental Health Planning Council, subject
to the approval of the Department of Finance. 
  SEC. 2.    Section 5847.5 is added to the Welfare
and Institutions Code, to read:
   5847.5.  (a) The State Department of Health Care Services, in
cooperation with county mental health directors and appropriate state
and county officials, shall develop a baseline report of system
quality and access to services in each county's mental health plan.
The baseline report shall include documentation of services funded by
all revenue sources, including county overmatch and any other
sources.
   (b) On or before July 1, 2015, the state shall issue requirements
for each county to establish a baseline report on system quality and
access to services provided by county mental health plans. Baseline
reports shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
   (1) The number of mental health clients served by county mental
health plans that serve individuals who meet diagnostic criteria for
access to county mental health systems, based upon system of care
standards and accepted continuum of care models for children, and
adults and older adults. The number of mental health clients served
shall be categorized by children, adults and older adults, and unmet
need.
   (2) The identification of service priorities that should be
developed or expanded in order to meet community needs.
   (3) Staff-to-client ratios for the majority of outpatient clients,
the number of days a client waits to see the clinician after seeking
treatment, the average wait between physician visits, access to
individual and group therapies, and access to supportive housing.
   (4) A description and the impact of established programs to reduce
crisis-driven spending, such as programs to reduce repeated
hospitalizations, incarcerations, injuries, and deaths.
   (5) For the three most recent years available, the number and
percentage of county jail populations that have a diagnosis of mental
illness, county suicide rates, and increases or reductions in law
enforcement involvement in mental health crisis calls, including the
number of commitments pursuant to Section 5150.
   (6) The percentage and amount of county revenue devoted to the
cost of treatment for individuals in locked facilities.
   (c) (1) On or before January 1, 2016, each county shall, for the
2014-15 fiscal year, submit to the department a baseline report on
the efficacy of the county's mental health care plan, including
county-operated programs and county-contracted services. The report
shall include expenditures from all revenue streams.
   (2) On or before June 30, 2016, the department shall report to the
Legislature on the baseline measure of system quality and access to
services provided by the counties pursuant to paragraph (1). The
report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the
Government Code.
   (3) The requirement for submitting a report imposed pursuant to
paragraph (2) is inoperative on July 1, 2020, pursuant to Section
10231.5 of the Government Code.
   (d) (1) On or before January 1, 2020, a second baseline report
shall be conducted by counties for the 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, and
2018-19 fiscal years and submitted to the department. The report
shall include the information described in paragraph (1) of
subdivision (c).
   (2) On or before June 30, 2020, the department shall report to the
Legislature on the baseline measure of system quality and access to
services provided by the counties pursuant to paragraph (1). The
report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the
Government Code.
   (3) The requirement for submitting a report imposed pursuant to
paragraph (2) is inoperative on July 1, 2024, pursuant to Section
10231.5 of the Government Code.
   (e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2025, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2025, deletes or extends
that date.  
  SEC. 3.    If the Commission on State Mandates
determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs
shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of
Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.