AB 2619: Mental health services funding: homeless persons.

Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act, an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, funds a system of county mental health plans for the provision of mental health services, as specified. The act establishes the continuously appropriated Mental Health Services Fund to fund various county mental health programs by imposing a tax of 1% on annual incomes above $1,000,000. The act requires the State Department of Health Care Services to implement specified mental health services provided under the act through contracts with county mental health programs or counties acting jointly, as prescribed. The act provides that it may be amended by the Legislature by a ²/₃ vote of each house as long as the amendment is consistent with and furthers the intent of the act, and that the Legislature may also clarify procedures and terms of the act by majority vote. Among other provisions, the existing act declares the intent to establish programs that ensure services are provided to severely mentally ill children, as defined, and that those services are part of the childrens system of care, as specified. Existing law requires county mental health programs to develop plans for innovative programs, and provides for funding for these programs from the Mental Health Services Fund.

This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions. appropriate $10,000,000 from the General Fund to the State Department of Health Care Services to be distributed to counties for the purpose of funding innovative programs to provide mental health services to Californias homeless population.