Mental illness and substance use disorder: restorative care program: pilot projects.

Existing law, the Bronzan-McCorquodale Act, governs the organization and financing of community mental health services for persons with mental disorders in every county through locally administered and locally controlled community mental health programs. Existing law authorizes the State Department of Health Care Services, in its discretion, to permit new programs to be developed and implemented without complying with licensure requirements established pursuant to existing state law, except for requirements relating to fire and life safety of persons with mental illness. This bill would also include within that exception, requirements relating to fire and life safety of persons with alcohol or substance use disorder. The bill would, subject to the above licensing provisions, authorize the County of Los Angeles to establish a pilot project for up to 6 years to develop a restorative care program for community-based care and treatment that addresses the interrelated and complex needs of individuals suffering from mental illness and substance use disorder, along with other medical comorbidities, and homelessness. The bill would authorize the department to require the County of Los Angeles to remit a specified fee in lieu of licensure or certification fees for a facility or program licensed or certified by the department as part of the pilot project. The bill would require the department, in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Director of Mental Health, to report to the Legislature within 2 years of the commencement of the operation of the initial facility regarding the progress and cost-effectiveness demonstrated by the pilot project. Under the bill, authorization for the pilot projects would be repealed as of January 1, 2026. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.