BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair

                                           1571 (Salas)
          
          Hearing Date:  08/27/2009           Amended: 07/23/2009
          Consultant:  Dan Troy           Policy Vote: VA 6-0, Health 10-0
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          BILL SUMMARY:   AB 1571 would require the Department of Mental  
          Health (DMH) to contract for a study to assess services provided  
          to veterans through county Mental Health Service Act programs.   
          The bill would also require DMH to inform the Department of  
          Veterans Affairs (DVA) of services intended specifically for  
          veterans in county mental health plans. The bill would further  
          require the inclusion of veterans or representatives from  
          veterans organization in the development or update of local  
          mental health plans.  
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                            Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions         2009-10      2010-11       2011-12     Fund
                                                                  
          DMH study                        $100                     MHSA    
                          
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          STAFF COMMENTS: SUSPENSE FILE.
          
          Proposition 63, approved by the voters in 2004, established the  
          Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) and enacted a state income tax  
          surcharge of 1 percent on taxable incomes of more than $1  
          million for the provision of mental health services.  Over $700  
          million is available for this purpose for the 2009-10 fiscal  
          year.  

          Under current law, county mental health departments are required  
          to develop three-year plans outlining the use of MHSA funds.   
          Components to be addressed in the plan include: 1) community  
          services and support; 2) workforce education and training; 3)  
          capital facilities and technology; 4) prevention and early  
          intervention; and 5) innovation. These plans are to be developed  
          or updated with local stakeholders, including adults and seniors  
          with severe mental illness, families of individuals that have  










          severe mental illness, service providers, law enforcement  
          agencies, education agencies, social services agencies, and  
          others.  

          Current law further requires to counties to refer veterans to  
          the county veterans service officer to determine the veteran's  
          eligibility for mental health services.  

          Requiring DMH to conduct the study would cost at least $100,000.  
           There may also be minor staffing costs for DMH to identify  
          services targeted for veterans in the mental health plans and to  
          provide that information to the DVA.  The provision of the bill  
          requiring representation of veterans in the development of local  
          mental health plans should not result in any significant local  
          costs.