BILL NUMBER: AB 34	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Steinberg
   (Coauthor:  Assembly Member Thomson)

                        DECEMBER 7, 1998

   An act relating to mental health.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 34, as introduced, Steinberg.  Mental health funding.
   Existing law provides for the allocation of state funds to
counties for mental health programs.
   This bill would provide that, commencing with the 2000-01 fiscal
year, every county shall receive an unspecified amount of funds based
upon the net increase in the number of persons the county has
provided with mental health services during the previous fiscal year.

   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) Presently there are no financial incentives for counties to
increase the number of people they serve with severe mental illness.

   (b) County dollars are generally fixed, so that treatment of a
higher than expected number of Medi-Cal recipients, who are entitled
to treatment by the county, reduces the amount of funds available to
serve other individuals.
   (c) Counties should be provided an amount of funds to provide
mental health services and related medications for indigents not yet
qualified for Medi-Cal, and for substance abuse services, housing
assistance, vocational rehabilitation, and other nonmedical programs
necessary to stabilize homeless mentally ill persons and get them
into regular treatment and off the streets.
  SEC. 2.  Commencing with the 2000-01 fiscal year and each fiscal
year thereafter, every county shall receive $____ based upon the net
increase in the number of persons the county has provided with mental
health services during the previous year.