BILL NUMBER:  SB 1769
  VETOED	DATE: 09/29/2000




SEP 29 2000

To Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill No. 1769 without my signature.

This bill would allow counties to include the development and
implementation of a mental health court as a component of the county'
s Mentally Ill Offender Crime Reduction (MIOCR) grant proposal (i.e.,
as part of the required comprehensive plan), and establishes the
objectives and criteria for the mental health courts, as specified.
This bill also amends an article (Chapter 501, Statutes of 1998) that
will sunset on December 31, 2004.

The 2000-01 Budget Act already includes $1.8 billion for the
Department of Mental Health, a 15.5% increase over the previous year.
  This includes $155 million in increased funding for a variety of
programs intended to meet mental health goals.  Priority for funding
has been given to programs that would prevent institutionalization
and hospitalization such as the Mentally Ill Offender Crime Reduction
Grant programs.

Sincerely,





GRAY DAVIS