Mental health: children's services.

Existing law contains provisions governing the operation and financing of community mental health services for the mentally disordered in every county through locally administered and locally controlled community mental health programs. Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act, an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, establishes the Mental Health Services Fund to fund various county mental health programs. The act provides that it may be amended by the Legislature by a 23 vote of each house as long as the amendment is consistent with and furthers the intent of the act, and that the Legislature may also clarify procedures and terms of the act by majority vote. Existing law requires each county mental health program to prepare and submit a 3-year plan that includes information on specified programs, including, but not limited to, programs for services to children and adults, and requires these programs to provide services to address the needs of transition age youth 16 to 25 years of age. This bill would require county mental health programs, in providing for services for transition age youth, to consider the needs of transition age foster youth. This bill would declare that it clarifies procedures and terms of the act. Because this bill would require counties to consider the needs of transition age foster youth in connection with programs for children and adults, it would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.