Title
Receive a written and oral report on Governor Newsom and Legislative leader's proposal to reform California's Behavioral Health System through two ballot initiatives, AB 531 (Irwin) the $6.7 billion Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act of 2023, and SB 326 (Eggman) the recasting of the Mental Health Services Act into the Behavioral Health Services Act to modernize the Act, and an analysis of the impact on County Behavioral Health Systems of Care.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Receive a written and oral report on Governor Newsom and Legislative leader's proposal to reform California's Behavioral Health System through two ballot initiatives, AB 532 (Irwin) the $6.7 billion Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act of 2023, and SB 326 (Eggman) the recasting of the Mental Health Services Act into the Behavioral Health Services Act to modernize the Act, and an analysis of the impact on County Behavioral Health Systems of Care.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On March 19, 2023, the Governor announced a proposal for modernizing and reforming the State's behavioral health care system by proposing AB 531 (Irwin) and SB 326 (Eggman). This report contains information assembled by the County Behavioral Health Directors Association (CBHDA) and the County of Monterey Health Department Behavioral Health Bureau (Bureau). There are portions of the proposed Bills that are welcomed, and others that cause concern for the future of the provision of behavioral health services in our community.
The Proposed Changes
AB 531 (Irwin) would place a $4.7 billion general obligation bond on the March 2024 ballot for building Behavioral Health Infrastructure for construction of new clinic beds and homes for people experiencing homelessness who have behavioral health needs, with a portion dedicated to serving veterans. A recent inpatient bed analysis by California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) identified a gap of 6,000 subacute and resid...
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