BILL NUMBER: SB 1770 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 22, 2000
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 13, 2000
INTRODUCED BY Senator Chesbro
FEBRUARY 23, 2000
An act to add Section 5600.8 to the Welfare and Institutions Code,
relating to mental health.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1770, as amended, Chesbro. Mental health: client and family
member empowerment programs.
Existing law, the Bronzan-McCorquodale Act, provides for the
organization and finance of community mental health services for the
mentally disordered in every county through locally administered and
locally controlled community mental health programs.
This bill would require, in any year in which funds are provided
for this purpose in the annual Budget Act, the State Department of
Mental Health, pursuant to a request-for-proposal process, to provide
grants to county mental health departments for mental health client
and family member empowerment programs that meet criteria specified
in the bill.
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. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
(a) Persons with mental disabilities and their family members make
significant contributions to the development and delivery
of a high-quality and cohesive mental health system in California.
(2) The delivery of appropriate mental health services and
supports to persons with mental disabilities , including
services and supports that address the needs of differing cultures,
ages, and genders, is improved by the involvement of clients
and family members in the development of treatment and service plans.
(3) The effectiveness of mental health treatment and services is
enhanced when clients and family members are afforded choices about
methods of delivery.
(4) The participation of clients and family members in the mental
health system is improved through peer supports.
(4) The recovery of clients in the mental health system and the
quality of life of these clients and their family members is enhanced
by peer and family support.
(5) Access Education, training, and access
to information is necessary to ensure that clients and family
members participate in the mental health system to their fullest
capacity.
(6) As part of their participation in the mental health system,
clients and family members should serve as respected members of
mental health boards and commissions, making recommendations and
developing policy. In order to maximize their contributions to the
mental health community, these individuals must have access to
information and training.
(7) Empowerment activities for clients and family members,
including programs run by these individuals, should be an integral
part of the system of care in each county.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to improve the role and
leadership of mental health system clients and their family members
in the development, implementation, and oversight of mental health
policies in California, as well as the exercise of consumer choice in
the determination of mental health treatment and service programs.
SEC. 2. Section 5600.8 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:
5600.8. (a) The department shall issue a request for proposals in
order to establish and expand empowerment programs for mental health
clients and their family members by not later than October
September 1 in any year in which funds are
provided in the annual Budget Act for this purpose. The department
shall make grants to county mental health departments on the basis of
proposals meeting the criteria set forth in this section.
(b) The department shall implement the requests for proposals
and award grants in consultation with a working group of individuals
with a stake in the mental health system, including clients and
family members. The group shall consist of at least 30 percent
clients and 30 percent family members.
(c) Proposals submitted pursuant to this section shall describe
how they will result in greater respect for client and family member
autonomy in the mental health system as well as how they will
increase the ability of clients and family members to make informed
decisions.
(d) Proposals submitted under this section shall describe how
clients and family members played a substantive role in the
development of these strategies.
(e) Proposals solicited pursuant to subdivision (a)
may shall be submitted by any county mental
health department , and shall include all of the following:
in partnership with local organizations run by clients
or family members, or both. Multiple counties may also submit
proposals in partnership with local organizations run by clients or
family members. Community-based organizations led by clients and
family members may subcontract with the county to fulfill components
of the proposals. Proposals may include, but are not limited to, any
of the following:
(1) A description of how the proposal will result in the
establishment, expansion, or improvement of training ,
or access to information ,
and referral services for clients and family members.
(2) A description of how the proposal will result in the
establishment, expansion, or improvement of the meaningful
role of clients and family members in local policy development,
implementation, and oversight activities.
(3) A description of how the proposal will result in the
establishment, expansion, or improvement of the use of clients and
family members in staff positions within the department.
county departments or community-based service
agencies.
(4) A description of how the proposal will result in the
establishment or expansion of self-help and other client-run
programs.
(5) A description of how the proposal will result in the
establishment of family-to-family family-run
educational or support activities.
(6) A description of how the proposal will result in
improved decisionmaking and choices for clients and family members.
A description of how the proposal will result in
services and supports that are appropriate to differing cultures,
ages, and genders.
(c) A proposal submitted pursuant to subdivision (b) shall
describe how clients and family members played a substantive role in
the development of the proposal.
(f) In order to ensure the appropriate monitoring and oversight
occurs, the department, in consultation with the working group, shall
develop a process by which grantees submit reports to the
department. The department shall use these reports to provide
information to the Legislature by April 1 of each year in which
programs are funded regarding the implementation of client and family
empowerment programs.
(d)
(g) Proposals submitted pursuant to subdivision (b) shall
describe how the county will continue to implement their client and
family member empowerment plan after the state grant funding
authorized by this section is terminated.