Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission.

(1) Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) , an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, among other things, establishes the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission to oversee the administration of various parts of the MHSA. The MHSA authorizes the commission to, among other things, establish technical advisory committees, assist in providing technical assistance to accomplish the purposes of the MHSA, and employ all other strategies necessary or convenient to enable it to perform its duties. Existing law authorizes the MHSA to be amended by a 23 vote of the Legislature if the amendments are consistent with, and further the purposes of, the MHSA, and also permits the Legislature to clarify procedures and terms of the MHSA by a majority vote. This bill would require the commission, by January 1, 2021, to establish technical assistance centers and one or more clearinghouses to support counties in addressing mental health issues of statewide concern, with a focus on school mental health and reducing unemployment and criminal justice involvement due to untreated mental health issues. The bill would also require the commission to develop a fiscal transparency and accountability strategy, a program transparency and accountability strategy for local government mental health programs, and an outcome transparency and accountability strategy for local government mental health programs in order to support public understanding of mental health funding, access to mental health services, and outcomes achieved by publicly funded or supported mental health programs. The bill would give the commission access to data, information, policies, procedures, and practices held or maintained by state and local agencies in order to develop these strategies and would require the commission to comply with applicable privacy and confidentiality laws with respect to this data. By requiring local agencies to provide access to the commission, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The MHSA also requires counties to create plans for innovative programs, funds for which may be expended upon approval by the commission. This bill would, subject to the availability of funds, require the commission, by January 1, 2021, to establish an innovation incubator to support implementation of those innovative programs. (3) By authorizing a new use of MHSA moneys, this bill would amend the MHSA. The bill would state the findings and declarations of the Legislature that this change is consistent with and furthers the intent of the MHSA. (4) 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.