Mental Health Services Act: housing assistance.

The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) , an initiative statute enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, imposes a 1% tax on that portion of a taxpayer's taxable annual income that exceeds $1,000,000 and requires that the revenue from that tax be deposited in the Mental Health Services Fund. Existing law specifies the manner in which counties are to use the funds distributed from the Mental Health Services Fund, including using the majority of the funds for services provided by county mental health programs. Existing law specifies a target population for these programs, including seriously emotionally disturbed children or adolescents and adults or older adults who have a serious mental disorder. This bill would clarify that counties may spend MHSA moneys on housing assistance, as defined, for people in the target population. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 5892 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by AB 1688 to be operative only if this bill and AB 1688 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.