BILL NUMBER: SB 1770 ENROLLED
BILL TEXT
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 30, 2000
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 28, 2000
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 7, 2000
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 22, 2000
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 13, 2000
INTRODUCED BY Senator Chesbro
FEBRUARY 23, 2000
An act to add Section 5600.10 to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to mental health.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1770, 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.
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 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) 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 5600.10 is added to the Welfare and Institutions
Code, to read:
5600.10. (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 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) shall be
submitted by any county mental health department 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 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-run educational or support activities.
(6) A description of how the proposal will result in services and
supports that are appropriate to differing cultures, ages, and
genders.
(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.
(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.