AB 2679, 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, the purpose of which 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 require the council to post these findings and recommendations annually on the council’s Internet Web site.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 5613 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:
(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 Health Care Services.
(b) The Director of Health Care Services shall annually make data on county performance available to the Legislature, and post that data on the department’s Internet Web site, by no later than March 15 of each year.
Section 5772 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:
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 the performance of programs 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.
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