BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 989
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Date of Hearing: April 13, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 989 (Mitchell) - As Amended: March 21, 2011
Policy Committee: HealthVote:15-1
Human Services Vote: 6-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill specifies transition-age foster youth as a population
that must be provided services through local programs funded
through Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) dollars.
Specifically, this bill requires that programs described in
county MHSA plans, which are currently required to include
services to address the needs of transition-age youth, also
include services to address the needs of transition-age foster
youth.
FISCAL EFFECT
Negligible net state fiscal impact. To the extent that counties
must divert MHSA funding from existing local priorities to new
services for transition-age foster youth, this bill has the
potential to reduce MHSA spending on services for other target
populations.
Depending on how counties interpret and apply these provisions
and the extent to which counties are currently providing
services for transition-age foster youth, this bill could result
in unknown cost shifts. Potential cost shifts would likely not
exceed the low millions of dollars.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . According to the author, transition-age foster
youth between the ages of 16 and 25 have high rates of mental
illness. The author argues the state has a responsibility to
address the needs of transition-age foster youth, given their
significant incidence of mental illness and unique status as
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"children of the state." The author notes that while the MHSA
directly references the need to fund programs that ensure that
transition age youth ages 16-25 achieve self-sufficiency
successfully, transition age foster youth are a subgroup of
this population that warrants special treatment and elevated
priority because they have uniquely acute mental health needs
that separate them from their peers.
2)Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63) . In November 2004,
California voters approved Proposition 63, also known as the
MHSA. The MHSA provides state funding for community mental
health programs through a personal income tax surcharge of 1 %
on the portion of a taxpayer's taxable income in excess of $1
million. This bill amends a provision of the MHSA which
specified that MHSA-funded programs shall address the needs of
transition age youth by further specifying that the programs
address the needs for transition-age foster youth. The bill
includes a statement that the Legislature finds and declares
that this measure clarifies procedures and terms of the act.
Such a clarification can be accomplished by a majority vote of
each house of the Legislature.
3)Changes to MHSA Planning Process Recently Codified . Currently,
counties are required to develop three-year plans that
describe the programs and services they intend to offer. As
part of the 2011-12 budget, AB 100 (Budget Committee), Chapter
5, Statutes of 2011 made changes to Section 5847 of the
Welfare and Institutions Code. Specifically, AB 100 removed
the requirement that DMH evaluate and approve a county's MHSA
expenditure plan. This bill, as currently drafted, reflects
the version of Section 5847 as it existed prior to these
changes. The author stated intent is not to modify the
provisions relating to plan approval. Technical amendments
would be required in order to remove the unintended changes.
4)Concerns . The California Mental Health Directors Association
(CMHDA) notes that transition-age foster youth are part of the
target population for MHSA programs, but they indicate that
programs and services should be developed based on
community-identified priority and need. They indicate that
they would support this bill if it was made voluntary for
counties to include services to transition-age foster youth.
Analysis Prepared by : Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
AB 989
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