Mental health.

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, establishes the continuously appropriated Mental Health Services Fund to fund various county mental health programs. The MHSA established the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, which is funded with moneys from the Mental Health Services Fund and which is required to review county plans relating to mental health services and to create specified reports on the use of MHSA moneys. Existing law requires counties to create plans for innovative programs, funds for which may be expanded upon approval by the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission. Existing law authorizes the act to be amended by a 23 vote of each house of the Legislature if the amendments are consistent with, and further the intent of, the act. Existing law authorizes the Legislature to add provisions to the act to clarify procedures and terms of the act by majority vote. This bill would clarify that the planning process for innovative programs is to be completed in collaboration with stakeholders and is to comply with open meetings laws. This bill would require the commission, in consultation with specified state, local, and private entities, to develop a strategy for the collection, organization, and public reporting of information on mental health funding, mental health programs, services, and strategies, funded by the Mental Health Services Act or other sources, and mental health outcomes, as specified. By authorizing a new use of MHSA moneys, this bill would amend the act. By requiring additional actions from local agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the commission to make the information available as prescribed to the public and policymakers. The bill would authorize the commission, subject to available funding, to develop an innovation challenge and utilize one or more hackathons, open coding initiatives, or other approaches to an effective strategy to collect, display, and make publicly available relevant information to support the intent of these provisions. This bill would require the State Department of Health Care Services, the Department of Finance, and any other state agency, to provide the commission with the information necessary to support the implementation of the reporting requirements. The bill would require an agency that cannot provide information to the commission as needed, to provide a written explanation to the commission and the relevant policy committees of the Senate and the Assembly explaining why the information cannot be provided and what authority, resources, or policy and practice changes are needed to accomplish the reporting goals. The bill would require the commission to make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature relating to the adequacy of various reporting requirements. Existing law requires each county mental health program to prepare and submit a 3-year program and expenditure plan, and annual updates, as specified, to the commission and the State Department of Health Care Services within 30 days after adoption. Existing law requires counties to demonstrate a partnership with constituents and stakeholders throughout the planning process that includes meaningful stakeholder involvement on mental health policy, program planning, and implementation, monitoring, quality improvement, evaluation, and budget allocations. This bill would require the 3-year plans to include certification by the county behavioral health director that the county has undertaken a rigorous community planning process with meaningful stakeholder involvement and would clarify that every meeting at which planning activities are undertaken for those plans is required to comply with open meeting laws. The bill would define the term "meaningful stakeholder involvement" for these purposes to include stakeholder input at all stages of the planning process, stakeholder training, training of county employees in involving stakeholders in the planning process, and the provision of services and incentives to promote stakeholder involvement, including, but not limited to, payment for transportation and childcare, and other processes to promote access to direct participation in the planning process. By requiring new duties of the county behavioral health director, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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.