BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Session SB 291 (Lara) - Mental health: vulnerable communities ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Version: April 28, 2015 |Policy Vote: HEALTH 7 - 0 | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Urgency: No |Mandate: No | | | | |--------------------------------+--------------------------------| | | | |Hearing Date: May 11, 2015 |Consultant: Brendan McCarthy | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. Bill Summary: SB 291 would require the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development to address workforce training and education needs to meet the mental health needs of vulnerable communities. Fiscal Impact: One-time costs of $600,000 - $700,000 to develop a needs assessment of workforce training and educational needs to meet the mental health needs of vulnerable communities (California Health Data and Planning Fund). No additional costs are anticipated for the Office of Health Equity to include individuals who have experienced trauma related to genocide in the Office's programs for vulnerable SB 291 (Lara) Page 1 of ? communities. No additional costs are anticipated for the Department of Health Care Services to consult with additional stakeholders. Background: Under current law, the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development is required to develop a Health Manpower Plan. The Office previously developed the required plan. There are currently no plans to update the plan. Proposed Law: SB 291 would require the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development to address workforce training and education needs to meet the mental health needs of vulnerable communities as part of its Health Manpower Plan for California. The bill would require the Office of Health Equity (within the Department of Public Health) to include individuals who have experienced trauma related to genocide in the Office's programs for vulnerable communities. The bill would require the Department of Health Care Services to consult with stakeholders in specified vulnerable communities when developing technical assistance to county mental health programs. Related Legislation: SB 315 (Monning) would authorize the California Health Facilities Financing Authority to create a grant program to fund projects for delivery of health care services to vulnerable communities. That bill will be heard in this committee. Staff Comments: The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development has previously completed the Health Manpower Plan. Current law does not require the Office to update the plan and it does not have any immediate plans to do so. This analysis SB 291 (Lara) Page 2 of ? assumes that the Office would develop a stand-alone update to the Health Manpower Plan addressing issues specific to the mental health needs of vulnerable communities. -- END --