BILL NUMBER: AB 2017 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 7, 2016
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 30, 2016
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member McCarty
FEBRUARY 16, 2016
An act to add Part 3.3 (commencing with Section 5832) to Division
5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to mental health,
and making an appropriation therefor.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2017, as amended, McCarty. College Mental Health Services
Program.
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, funds a system of county mental
health plans for the provision of mental health services, as
specified. 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.
The act establishes the Mental Health Services Fund, continuously
appropriated to and administered by the State Department of Health
Care Services, to fund specified county mental health programs,
including prevention and early intervention programs and programs
implemented under the Adult and Older Adult Mental Health System of
Care Act. The act authorizes the payment of administrative costs of
the state from the fund in an amount not greater than 5% of the
annual total deposited in the fund and otherwise specifies the
distribution of moneys in the fund.
This bill bill, until January 1, 2022,
would establish the College Mental Health Services Trust
Account, would transfer an unspecified amount
$40,000,000 annually to that account from the Mental Health
Services Fund, and would appropriate those funds to the department to
create a grant program for public community colleges, colleges, and
universities to improve access to mental health services on campus,
as specified. The bill would require campuses that have been awarded
grants annually to report on the use of grant funds.
By changing the funding structure approved by the voters, this
bill would amend the Mental Health Services Act. The bill would state
the finding of the Legislature that the measure is consistent with
and furthers the purposes of the Mental Health Services Act. The bill
would make other finding and declarations.
Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that this
measure is consistent with and furthers the purposes of the Mental
Health Services Act within the meaning of Section 18 of that act.
(b) Students, faculty, health practitioners, and college
administrators are reporting increased rates of mental health needs
by students attending public colleges in California.
(c) One in four students have a diagnosable mental illness and 40
percent of students do not seek mental health when they need it.
(d) Eight out of 10 people who experience psychosis have their
first episode between 15 and 30 years of age.
(e) The demand for mental health services by public college
students far outpaces the ability of colleges to provide them.
California public college campuses and higher education systems do
not meet national staffing standards for psychiatric services and
other mental health professionals.
(f) The lack of services directly impacts college students'
success and academic performance as well as their ability to develop
socially as productive members of society.
(g) The effects of untreated mental health needs are long lasting
and can include college students dropping out of school, experiencing
homelessness, and dying of suicide.
(h) One in 10 college students has considered suicide and suicide
is the second leading cause of death among college students, claiming
more than 1,100 lives every year nationally.
(i) Research shows that for each dollar invested in student
prevention and early intervention mental health services, California
will see a return of at least six dollars ($6) and up to eleven
dollars ($11) as a result of more students graduating.
SEC. 2. Part 3.3 (commencing with Section 5832) is added to
Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:
PART 3.3. College Mental Health Services Program
5832. This part shall be known, and may be cited, as the College
Mental Health Services Program Act.
5832.1. (a) There is hereby established in the State Treasury the
College Mental Health Services Trust Account. Notwithstanding
Section 13340 of the Government Code, moneys in the account are
hereby continuously appropriated to the State Department of Health
Care Services to fund the grant program established pursuant to this
part.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 5892 or any other law, ____
dollars ($____) forty million dollars ($40,000,000)
shall be transferred from the Mental Health Services Fund into
the College Mental Health Services Trust Account annually.
5832.2. (a) The department, in consultation with the California
Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA), shall create a grant
program for public community colleges, colleges, and universities to
improve access to mental health services and early identification or
intervention programs. The department and CalMHSA shall establish
guidelines for grant funding that shall include, but not be limited
to, all of the following:
(1) The ability of the program to fund the matching component
required by subdivision (c).
(2) The ability of the campus, in partnership with the local
county, to establish direct linkages for students to community-based
mental health services for which the students' health coverage makes
them eligible, ensuring provider reimbursement.
(3) The ability to participate in evidence-based and community
defined best practice programs for mental health services
improvements.
(4) The ability of the campus to serve underserved and vulnerable
populations, including, but not limited to, lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, questioning, and allied (LGBTQA) persons, victims of
domestic violence and sexual abuse, and veterans.
(5) The ability of the campus to reduce racial disparities in
access to mental health services.
(6) The ability of the campus to fund mental health stigma
reduction activities.
(7) The ability of the campus to provide employees and students
with education and training on early identification, intervention,
and referral of students with mental health needs.
(b) Grants may be awarded to a community college district in the
California Community College system, the California State University
system, or the University of California system. The scale of the
program shall determine the amount awarded, but in no case shall the
department award more than five million dollars ($5,000,000) per
campus, per application.
(c) Grants shall only be awarded to a campus that can show a
dollar-for-dollar match of funds from the campus.
(d) Administrative costs associated with administering an approved
program shall be limited to 5 percent for any grantee.
(e) The funding provided pursuant to this part shall not be used
to supplant existing state or county funds utilized to provide mental
health services.
(d)
(f) The department and CalMHSA may provide technical
assistance to smaller colleges and counties in the application
process to ensure equitable distribution of the grant award.
5832.3. (a) Community colleges and campuses in the California
State University system that have been awarded grants pursuant to
this part shall report annually to the respective Chancellor's Office
and campuses in the University of California system shall report
annually to the University of California Office of the President on
the use of grant funds. This report shall include, but not be limited
to, all of the following:
(1) How grant funds and matching funds are being used.
(2) Available evaluation data, including outcomes of the campus
mental health programs funded pursuant to the grant program.
(3) Program information regarding services being offered and the
number of individuals being served.
(b) The Chancellor's offices and the University of California
Office of the President shall forward
electronically submit the reports of the campuses required
pursuant to subdivision (a), at one time annually, to the department,
CalMHSA, and the Legislature for evaluation of the grant program.
5832.4. This part shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2022, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2022, deletes or extends
that date.