BILL ANALYSIS
AB 34
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Date of Hearing: May 19, 1999
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Carole Migden, Chairwoman
AB 34 (Steinberg) - As Amended: April 26, 1999
Policy Committee: Health Vote:14-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local
Program:NoReimbursable: -
SUMMARY
This bill expands funding for mental health services to
seriously mentally ill adults over an eight-year period. The
bill:
1)Requires, as funds become available, the three existing
demonstration projects established in the Adult and Older
Adult Mental Health System of Care Act to be expanded to
counties with a significant number of homeless mentally ill
persons.
2)Permits the Department of Mental Health (DMH) to reduce grants
under the program if counties that receive them are unable to
demonstrate at least a 20 percent reduction in incarceration
rates over a four-year period.
3)Permits conditions for improvement to be imposed upon a county
that receives a grant, but does not reduce criminal justice
expenditures as a result, including imposing limitations on
future funds.
4)Requires, beginning in 2004-2005, the DMH to report to the
Legislature about the impact of grants in reducing
incarceration of severely mentally ill persons.
FISCAL EFFECT
The bill appropriates $3 million General Fund in 1999-2000. In
addition, the bill appropriates $50 million (GF) beginning in
2000-2001, and increases the annual appropriation by $50 million
each year through 2006-07 (thereby appropriating $350 million in
2006-07).
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This committee generally does not approve continuous
appropriations.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose of the Bill . The author proposes this bill to provide
substantial financial incentives to counties to address the
needs of homeless individuals with severe mental illnesses.
The author notes the severely mentally ill, especially those
with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, frequently become
completely disoriented and are not able to recognize or accept
the need for medical assistance. When medical attention is
not sought, the condition worsens, and a cycle of emergency
hospitalization, return to the streets, arrest, incarceration
and return to homelessness ensues. The author argues the
mentally ill are often the most vulnerable and helpless
members of society, and need government intervention and
assistance to restore their health and independence.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department indicates that its
jail system effectively serves as the largest mental health
facility in the nation, providing mental health services for
over 2,400 inmates each day. The LA Sheriff's Department
believes this bill will provide necessary resources to keep
mentally ill patients from committing crimes and unnecessarily
crowding our criminal justice system. The California Mental
Health Planning Council argues this bill will addresses the
sustained under-funding of community mental health care that
has continued since large numbers of the mentally ill were
released from state institutions in the early 1970's.
2)Prior Legislation . AB 3777 (Wright, Chaptered 1988)
authorized pilot programs to serve seriously mentally ill
adults and older adults. The projects were funded In Ventura,
Stanislaus, and Los Angeles counties. The focus of these
programs has been to help clients reach functional status
through access to coordinated services to address multiple
problems. Under the 1988 law, the projects must demonstrate
quantifiable reductions in incarceration rates, increased
stability in housing, and improved employment rates among
individuals served. The programs were patterned after a
similar effort to improve services to seriously emotionally
disturbed children that has been expanded statewide. However,
due to funding limitations, a parallel expansion of mental
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health services to adults has not occurred.
Analysis Prepared by : William Wehrle / APPR. / (916) 319-2081