BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 2679
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 14, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

               AB 2679 (Logue and Nestande) - As Amended:  May 5, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                              HealthVote:19-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires the Department of Health Care Services and  
          the California Mental Health Planning Council to post specified  
          currently collected data regarding the performance of county  
          mental health programs on their respective Internet Web site.

          This bill states the intent of the Legislature to establish a  
          baseline report to inform public officials and stakeholders of  
          each county's accessible mental illness treatments and supports,  
          identified unmet needs, and the status of system integration and  
          collaboration.
           
           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Any costs associated with this legislation are minor and  
          absorbable.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose  . This bill was introduced in response to concern that  
            inadequate state oversight has hampered the state's ability to  
            ensure the effectiveness of Mental Health Services Act (MHSA)  
            funds. 

           2)MHSA  .  Proposition 63 of 2004 enacted the MHSA, which imposes  
            a 1% income tax on personal income in excess of $1 million for  
            community-based mental health programs.  Under MHSA, counties  
            that receive funds must have a three-year plan developed with  
            significant local stakeholder input and involvement.  A 2013  
            audit by the State Auditor titled "Mental Health Services Act  
            (MHSA): The State's Oversight Has Provided Little Assurance of  
            the Act's Effectiveness, and Some Counties Can Improve  








                                                                  AB 2679
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            Measurement of Their Program Performance"  found that,  
            although the MHSA funded many programs and served numerous  
            individuals, the prior Department of Mental Health (DMH) (now  
            Department of Health Care Services) and the Mental Health  
            Services Oversight and Accountability Commission did not  
            provide the oversight needed to demonstrate whether the MHSA  
            is effective.  The report suggested the state should use  
            performance-based contracts, conduct comprehensive on-site  
            reviews of MHSA programs, identify and collect meaningful  
            data, and use those data to verify and report on performance.   
                
                
            3)Overall State Behavioral Health Needs  . Consistent with the  
            intent stated in this bill, the state has conducted an  
            extensive Behavioral Health Needs Assessment and Service Plan  
            in 2012 and 2013 as part of the "Bridge to Reform" federal  
            waiver.  
           Analysis Prepared by  :    Lisa Murawski / APPR. / (916) 319-2081