Mental health: Mental Health Services Fund.

Existing law, known as Laura's Law, until January 1, 2017, regulates designated assisted outpatient treatment services, which a county may choose to provide for its residents. In a county where assisted outpatient treatment services are available, a person is authorized to receive specified mental health services pursuant to an order if requisite criteria are met, as specified. Under that law, participating counties are required to provide prescribed assisted outpatient services, including a service planning and delivery process that provides for services that are client-directed and employ psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery principles. 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, funds a system of county mental health plans for the provision of mental health services, as specified. 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. The act establishes the Mental Health Services Fund, continuously appropriated to and administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, to fund specified county mental health programs, including prevention and early intervention programs, which include outreach, and programs implemented under the Adult and Older Adult Mental Health System of Care Act. The Adult and Older Adult Mental Health System of Care Act establishes services standards that require, among other things, that a service planning and delivery process provides for services that are client-directed and employ psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery principles. This bill would declare that it is consistent with and furthers the intent of the Mental Health Services Act. This bill would clarify that services provided under Laura's Law may be provided pursuant to the Mental Health Services Act. This bill would provide that outreach under prevention and early intervention programs may include the provision of funds to school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools for the purposes of obtaining and providing training to identify students with mental health issues that may result in a threat to themselves or others. By allocating moneys in the Mental Health Services Fund for new purposes, this bill would make an appropriation. This bill would delete obsolete provisions and make other conforming changes. Because the bill would amend Proposition 63, it would require a 23 vote of the Legislature.