BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1571
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 1571 (Committee on Veterans Affairs)
As Amended September 1, 2009
2/3 vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |73-2 |(June 2, 2009) |SENATE: |31-0 |(September 9, |
| | | | | |2009) |
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Original Committee Reference: HEALTH
SUMMARY : Includes veterans and representatives from a veterans
organization in the list of local stakeholders required to be
consulted in the development and update of each county's Mental
Health Services Act (MHSA) plan and requires the Department of
Mental Health (DMH) to inform the California Department of
Veterans Affairs (CDVA) of county plans that have outreach
programs or that provide services specifically for veterans.
The Senate amendments :
1)Delete the provisions prohibiting DMH from approving a
county's plan for the expenditure of funds from the MHSA, as
specified, unless it includes verifiable representation from a
legitimate veterans group in the stakeholder planning process
and a separate section that specifically addresses how the
mental health needs of veterans are, or are not, being met.
2)Revise the list of local stakeholders required to be consulted
in the development and update of each county's MHSA plan to
include veterans and representatives from a veterans
organization.
3)Direct DMH to inform CDVA of county plans that contain
outreach and services for veterans.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes DMH to direct and coordinate statewide efforts for
the treatment of mental disabilities.
2)Establishes the MHSA, enacted by voters in 2004 as Proposition
63, to provide funds to counties to expand services and
develop innovative programs and integrated service plans for
AB 1571
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mentally ill children, adults, and seniors through a 1% tax on
personal income above $1 million.
3)Requires each county mental health department to prepare and
submit to DMH a three-year program and expenditure plan for
MHSA funding that addresses specified components, including
prevention and early intervention, and innovation. Requires
DMH to establish guidelines for the content of each of the
components and approval of county plans.
4)Requires each county plan and update to be developed with
local stakeholders, including adults and seniors with severe
mental illness, families of children, adults, and seniors with
severe mental illness, providers of services, law enforcement
agencies, educators, social services agencies, and other
important interests.
5)Specifies that the MHSA may only be amended by a two-thirds
vote of both houses of the Legislature and only so long as the
amendment is consistent with and furthers the intent of the
MHSA. Permits provisions clarifying the procedures and terms
of the MHSA to be added by majority vote of the Legislature.
6)Requires counties to provide mental health services to target
populations to the extent resources are available. Includes
in the target populations California veterans in need of
mental health services who are not eligible for care by the VA
or other federal health care provider. Specifies the minimum
array of services that must be provided to target populations.
7)Clarifies that counties are required to provide mental health
services to California veterans in need of services and who
meet existing eligibility requirements, to the extent services
are available to other adults and to the extent resources are
available.
8)Prohibits an eligible veteran from being denied county mental
health services based solely on his or her status as a
veteran.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill was substantially similar
to the version approved by the Senate.
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FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, minor staffing costs for DMH to identify services
targeted for veterans in the mental health plans and to provide
that information to CDVA. 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.
COMMENTS : The Senate version differs from the Assembly-approved
version in that the Senate amendments delete provisions relating
to the specificity of planning and reporting regarding veterans'
mental health; require DMH to inform CDVA of county mental
health plans that have outreach programs or that provide
services specifically for veterans as part of its review and
approval of prevention and early intervention programs and
innovations programs of MHSA; and add veterans and
representatives from a veterans group to the list of
stakeholders involved in each county's MHSA plan review process.
Analysis Prepared by : Cassie Rafanan / HEALTH / (916)
319-2097
FN: 0002893