Health: mental health: Mental Health Services Act.

Under existing law, the State Department of Mental Health is authorized and required to perform various functions relating to the care and treatment of persons with mental disorders. 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 continuously appropriated Mental Health Services Fund to fund various county mental health programs. Existing law establishes the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (commission) to oversee the administration of various parts of the Mental Health Services Act. 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. This bill would require the commission to assist in providing technical assistance, as specified, and would require the commission to work in collaboration with, and in consultation with, various entities in designing a comprehensive joint plan for coordinated evaluation of client outcomes. This bill would require the California Health and Human Services Agency to lead the comprehensive joint plan effort. This bill would transfer various functions of the State Department of Mental Health under the Mental Health Services Act to the State Department of Health Care Services and the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. This bill would make various technical and conforming changes to reflect the transfer of those mental health responsibilities. This bill would require all projects included in the innovative programs portion of the county plan to meet specified requirements. Existing law requires each county mental health program to prepare and submit a 3-year plan that includes specified components. This bill, in this regard, would require the plan to be a 3-year program and expenditure plan adopted by the county board of supervisors and submitted to the commission, would require annual updates, and would require plans to be certified by the county mental health director and the county auditor controller, as specified. This bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services to inform the California Mental Health Directors Association and the commission of the methodology used for revenue allocation to the counties. This bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services, in consultation with the commission and the California Welfare Directors Association, to develop and administer instructions for the Annual Mental Health Services Act Revenue and Expenditure Report, as prescribed. This bill would require the Governor or the Director of Health Care Services to appoint, subject to confirmation by the Senate, a Deputy Director of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services of the State Department of Health Care Services. This bill would declare that it clarifies procedures and terms of the Mental Health Services Act.