Mental health: technical assistance centers.

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 act. The act authorizes the commission to, among other things, establish technical advisory committees and assist in providing technical assistance to accomplish the purposes of the act. 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, subject to available funding, the commission to establish one or more technical assistance centers to support counties in addressing mental health issues, as determined by the commission, that are of statewide concern and establish, with stakeholder input, which mental health issues are of statewide concern. The bill would require costs incurred as a result of complying with those provisions to be paid using funds allocated to the commission from the Mental Health Services Fund. The bill would state the finding and declaration of the Legislature that this change is consistent with and furthers the intent of the act.