BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1770
Page 1
Date of Hearing: June 27, 2000
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
Martin Gallegos, Chair
SB 1770 (Chesbro) - As Amended: June 22, 2000
SENATE VOTE : 22-11
SUBJECT : Mental health: client and family member empowerment
programs
SUMMARY : Requires the Department of Mental Health (DMH) to
issue a request for proposals (RFP) in order to establish and
expand empowerment programs for mental health clients and their
family members, as specified. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires DMH to issue an RFP in order to establish and expand
empowerment programs for mental health clients and their
family members by no later than September 1 in any year in
which funds are provided in the annual Budget Act for this
purpose. Requires DMH to implement the RFP and award grants
in consultation with a working group, as specified.
2)Provides that proposals solicited under this bill be submitted
by any county or multiple county mental health department(s)
in partnership with local organizations, as specified.
Specifies information that each proposal is required to
include and information each proposal may include.
3)Requires DMH to make grants to county mental health
departments on the basis of proposals meeting the criteria set
forth in this bill.
4)Requires DMH, in consultation with the working group, to
develop a process by which grantees submit reports in order to
assure the appropriate monitoring and oversight occurs.
Requires DHS to use these reports to provide information to
the Legislature, by April 1 in each year programs are funded,
regarding the implementation of the programs established by
this bill.
5)Makes specified findings and declarations regarding mental
health services in California.
6)States the intent of the Legislature to improve the role and
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leadership of mental health system clients and their family
members in the development, implementation, and oversight of
California's mental health policies, as specified.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the Department of Mental Health to administer a
variety of mental health programs throughout California.
2)Establishes the Bronzan-McCorquodale Act, which provides for
the organization and finance of community mental health
services, as specified, in every county through locally
administered and locally controlled community mental health
programs.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations Committee,
unknown general fund costs for county grants. Based on previous
experience of the DMH with similar grants funded by other
sources, grants to individual counties could range between
$200,000 and $400,000.
COMMENTS :
1)PURPOSE OF THE BILL . The author states this bill requires DMH
to issue a request for proposals to counties or
community-based organizations in order to establish and expand
empowerment programs and activities for mental health clients
and their family members. Programs and activities funded
under this program may include, but are not limited to, the
establishment, expansion or improvement of self-help, peer
counseling and other client-run programs; family-to-family
support programs; training, information, and referral services
for clients and families; use of clients and family members in
staff positions within county departments and community-based
programs; and use of clients and family members on policy
development and oversight boards, commissions and task forces.
The author states that grant proposals must demonstrate that
clients and families played a substantive role in the
development of the proposal.
The author states a recent Joint Committee on Mental Health
Reform hearing has illustrated the lack of involvement and
partnership felt by clients and family members in the mental
health system. They often lack information, access and a
meaningful role in system design and implementation. Client
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and family estrangement from the mental health system often
hampers participation in treatment and impedes recovery. The
Committee also repeatedly heard from clients and families who
have benefited from peer support activities, including
self-help programs and family-to-family support programs, as
well as efforts to include clients and families as
professional staff in county mental health departments and in
community-based programs. The author also states that studies
have shown that self-help and peer counseling groups result in
improved client outcomes, including decreased hospitalizations
and reduced lengths of stay when hospitalization does occur;
reduced stress on families of persons with mental
disabilities; less need to continue to attend certain
programs; high satisfaction with life and health, as well as
their satisfaction with work, leisure, and community;
reduction of the family's sense of burden; ability to obtain
information about mental illness and coping strategies; and
supportive social bonds with others who were experiencing
similar problems.
2)SUPPORT . The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
California writes in support stating this bill will empower
clients and family members to participate more fully with the
county mental health departments in local policy development,
implementation and oversight activities in treatment and
service plans for the mental health system. NAMI California
states they have long held the position that direct feedback
from clients and family members is essential input to the
process of developing and maintaining an effective mental
health care delivery system. NAMI states that clients and
family members should participate in their own or their family
member's treatment planning as well as the overall mental
health system planning, policy-making, development and
implementation at all levels. NAMI California concludes that
proactive efforts by the county mental health departments to
seek out better ways to tap these invaluable resources will
surely improve our mental health system. Protection &
Advocacy Inc., (PI) writes that this bill will greatly improve
mental health services in California, by establishing and
expanding empowerment programs for mental health clients and
their family members. In doing so, PI writes, this bill is
respectful of the rights and preferences of mental health
clients and is consistent with the principle that persons
receiving mental health services should be allowed to
participate in every aspect of their treatment, as are persons
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who receive other kinds of health services.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Child, Youth and Family Coalition
California Mental Health Directors Association
California Network of Mental Health Clients
Mental Health Advocacy Project
NAMI California
Protection & Advocacy, Inc.
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Ellen McCormick / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097