This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact statutory changes relating to the Budget Act of 2019.

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: AB 79

Author: Committee on Budget

Amended: 6/22/20 in Senate

Vote: 21

PRIOR VOTES NOT RELEVANT

SENATE BUDGET & FISCAL REVIEW COMMITTEE: 13-5, 6/24/20

AYES: Mitchell, Beall, Caballero, Durazo, Hurtado, Leyva, McGuire, Monning, Pan, Roth, Skinner, Stern, Wieckowski

NOES: Nielsen, Dahle, Melendez, Moorlach, Morrell

SUBJECT: Human services omnibus

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill provides for statutory changes necessary to enact human-services related provisions of the Budget Act of 2020.

ANALYSIS: This bill, as part of the 2020-21 Budget package, makes the following statutory changes to implement the Budget Act:

Department of Developmental Services (DDS)

1. Supplemental Rate Increases for Specified Providers. Requires DDS, effective January 1, 2021, to provide a rate increase to independent living programs, infant development programs, and early start specialized therapeutic services. The percentages of the rate increases shall be established by the department and posted on the department’s website. Implementation of these rate increases will be suspended on December 31, 2021, subject to the terms of the suspension policy.
2. Incompetent to Stand Trial Capacity/Diversion Process. Increases the allowable number of certified Enhanced Behavioral Support Homes with delayed egress and secure perimeter to 11 statewide, and also increases the maximum number of beds in facilities that utilized delayed egress and secure perimeter to 174 statewide. Temporarily increases the maximum population of the secure treatment facility at Porterville Developmental Center from 211 to 231 until June 30, 2023. Revises provisions relating to the diversion process for defendants that have been evaluated by a regional center to have a developmental disability, expanding the offenses to which the diversion program would apply and aligning with current law for defendants with mental health disorders.
3. Stabilization, Training, Assistance, and Reintegration (STAR) Home Leases. Authorizes DDS to execute leases, lease-purchases, or leases with the option to purchase real property necessary for the establishment or maintenance of Stabilization, Training, Assistance, and Reintegration (STAR) homes.
4. Expedited Regional Center Individual Program Plan Process. Requires regional centers to review an individual program plan no later than seven days after a request is submitted if the review is deemed necessary for the consumer’s health and safety or to maintain the consumer in their home.

State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD)

1. Self Determination Program Report. Requires the SCDD to issue an interim report on the status of the Self-Determination Program, barriers to implementation, and recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of the program by June 30, 2021. This bill also extends the deadline for submission of the Council’s final report on the Self-Determination program to December 31, 2022.

Department of Child Support Services (DCSS)

1. CalWORKs Child Support Pass-through. Increases, beginning January 1, 2022, the amount of child support passed through to CalWORKs recipients - $100 for a family with one child and $200 for a family with two or more children. Under current law, only the first $50 of child support collected per month is paid to a CalWORKs recipient. The remaining balance of the collected child support goes to local and state government as a reimbursement for provided aid.

Department of Social Services (DSS) – CalWORKs

1. Restoration of the 60-Month Time Limit. Authorizes moving to a single 60-month CalWORKs time limit, effective May 1, 2022, or when the department notifies the Legislature that all necessary automation changes are complete. This bill also eliminates the 24-month limitation on certain welfare-to-work activities, effective May 1, 2022, or when the department notifies the Legislature that all necessary automation changes are complete. Makes other conforming changes to program statute to reflect the 60-month time limit.
2. 12-month Continuous Eligibility for CalWORKs Stage One Childcare. Clarifies that sanctioned participants can access childcare if they have indicated an intent to engage in a program activity or employment, but have not yet participated.
3. CalWORKs Accountability and Outcome Review (Cal-OAR). Makes the Cal-OAR continuous quality improvement components optional to counties during the 2020-21 fiscal year. Requires the department to provide a summary of executed and pending contracts and grants to implement Cal-OAR on the department website.
4. CalWORKs Single Allocation. Delays removal of funding for stage one childcare from the Single Allocation from 2020-21 to take effect in 2021-22.
5. Identity Verification Methods. Clarifies that the methods approved by the department as of July 1, 2018, satisfy the requirement for nonbiometric identity verification methods in the CalWORKs program. Repeals obsolete sections related to this issue.
6. Cal-Learn Program. Specifies additional intensive case management models that counties are required to contract for the provision of services with public or nonprofit agencies or school districts that administer services, including, among others, a home visiting model. Requires counties to include approved contractors in their planning of the Cal-Learn Program to ensure participation in the county’s planning and implementation of the program.

CalFresh Program

1. CalFresh Simplifications. Makes several simplifications to the CalFresh program to help those enrolled retain benefits and those who are eligible access the program. Simplifications include requiring counties to attempt to make personal contact via telephone or other electronic means prior to terminating benefits, and requiring any discontinuance be rescinded if the necessary information for the semiannual report form is obtained via an acceptable alternative method.
2. CalFresh Overissuances. Modifies the amount in current law ($125) that current and future CalFresh benefits could be reduced to recover an overissuance to a higher amount that is approved by the United States Department of Agriculture. Modifies the amount in current law ($400) that, if a household is no longer receiving CalFresh benefits, a CalFresh overissuance caused by administrative error or inadvertent household error shall not be established, and collection shall not be attempted, to a higher amount that is approved by the United States Department of Agriculture.
3. CalFresh County Match Waiver. Caps, for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 fiscal years, the amount of a county’s share of administration costs at the amount the county was required to contribute to receive its full allocation under the 2019 Budget Act.
4. CalFresh County Administration Funding. Changes the beginning base year for the updating of the budgeting methodology used to determine the annual funding for county administration of the CalFresh Program from 2020-21 to 2021-22.
5. Safe Drinking Water Supplemental Benefit Pilot. Extends the sunset date for the Safe Drinking Water Supplemental Benefit Pilot program to provide additional CalFresh nutritional benefits for interim assistance to purchase safe drinking water from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2024.

Child Welfare Services/Foster Care

1. Rate Increases for Foster Family Agencies (FFAs). States the intent of the Legislature that any additional federal funds identified due to the implementation of a Social worker Time Study to be applied to offset General Fund appropriated for the cost of the 4.15 percent FFA social worker rate increase.
2. Flexibilities for FFAs. Institutes, for FFAs, a ratio of one full-time social worker for every 18 children in placement. Allows non-social work personnel to complete a resource family home health and safety assessment if the assessment is reviewed and approved by a social worker, given those non-social work personnel have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or a related field.
3. Flexibilities for County Child Welfare Services Programs. Allows for biennial updates of resource family approvals. For the 2020-21 fiscal year, allows counties to conduct inspections of supervised independent living placements through methods other than in-person visits.
4. Nonminor Dependent (NMD) Transitional Housing Program Supplement. Allows the rates paid for providing services to NMDs to be supplemented with a housing supplement, based on fair market rent.
5. Transitional Housing Program-Plus. Permits a county, at its option, to extend the services provided to former foster youth participating in the Transitional Housing Program-Plus as of July 1 2020, without regard to their age or length of time they have received services, until June 30, 2021.
6. Emergency Caregiver Payments. During the 2020-21 fiscal year, allows emergency caregiver payments made prior to placement approval to be provided beyond 120 days and up to 365 days when the delay in approval is outside of county control.
7. Family Urgent Response System (FURS). Allows for the implementation of FURS before January 1, 2021, as long as counties have established a mobile response system or an alternative method to accept and respond to referrals from the statewide hotline. Implementation of this program will be suspended on December 31, 2021, subject to the terms of the suspension policy as specified in statute.
8. Los Angeles (L.A.) County Public Health Nursing Early Intervention Program. Requires, before January 1, 2021, and to the extent enabled by existing resources or appropriated funds, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), in consultation with L.A. County to determine the steps required to seek any federal approvals necessary to claim federal financial participation for allowable Medicaid activities of the program, and states that the activities of the program shall be implemented only to the extent that DHCS obtains any necessary federal Medicaid approvals.

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)

1. Sick Day Parity for Waiver Personal Care Services (WPCS) Providers. Requires sick day coverage for WPCS providers who also provide in-home supportive services.
2. IHSS Reassessments. Gives counties until December 31, 2020, to complete required IHSS assessments that were due between the issuance of Executive Order N-29-20 and June 30,2020, or were not completed due to the waiver authority set forth in that Executive Order. Allows those reassessments to be conducted remotely, subject to federal approval.
3. IHSS Provider Orientations. Requires counties to provide no less than 10 days notice of provider orientations to the recognized employee organization. Also requires this advance notice if the orientation is modified from an onsite, in-person orientation. Specifies that prospective providers may, by their own accord, choose not to participate in the recognized employee organization presentation.
4. IHSS Mandatory Training. Mandates new IHSS case workers, case worker supervisors, quality assurance and program integrity staff, and program managers receive training within the first six months of employment. Also requires any existing staff who have not had training or completed training prior to July 1, 2019, to complete a one-day refresher training.
5. IHSS Quality Assurance Activities. Permits a county to, until December 31, 2020, request, and the Department of Social Services to approve, a reduction of quality assurance and program integrity activities to address staffing shortages and enable the county to repurpose staff to support critical IHSS administrative functions, including intakes and reassessments. Also allows counties to conduct these activities remotely, subject to federal approval.

DSS – Additional provisions

1. Notification of Closure of Adult Residential Facilities (ARFs) and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs). Requires licensees of ARFs and RCFEs to inform the city and county in which the facility is located of a proposed closure or intent to sell the property or business, no later than 180 days before, or as soon as practically possible.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Yes Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: Yes

According to the Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee, funding related to the changes in this bill is contained in the 2020-21 Budget.

SUPPORT: (Verified 6/23/20)

None received

OPPOSITION: (Verified 6/23/20)

None received

Prepared by: Renita Polk / B. & F.R. / 916-651-4103

6/25/20 0:46:56

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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS

CSA1 Bill Id:AB 79

Author:(Committee on Budget)

As Amended Ver:June 22, 2020

Majority vote. Budget Bill Appropriation Takes Effect Immediately

SUMMARY:

This bill is the Omnibus Human Services Trailer Bill for the 2020 budget package.

The Senate Amendments:

Delete the existing contents of the bill and instead:

CalWORKs

1. Provides that, commencing July 1, 2020, the methods approved by the department as of July 1, 2018 satisfy the requirement for nonbiometric identity verification methods in the CalWORKs program. Repeals obsolete sections related to this issue.
2. Conforms all program statute pertaining to CalWORKs, including a) income reporting and grant amounts, b) annual redetermination, c) services provided after timing out, d) exemptions, e) good cause application, f) the Welfare to Work assessment and plan, g) appraisal and barrier removal services, h) circumstances when the parent in the Assistance Unit is ineligible, and i) the time limit statute itself to reflect the 60-month time limit that is scheduled to take effect on May 1, 2022 or when the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement the 60-month time limit, whichever is later, and, in tandem, repeals references to the sunsetting 24 and 48 month time clocks that will cease to exist, pursuant to the same May 1, 2022 or automation requirement, whichever is later.
3. Applies the Welfare to Work services and hours requirements that exist for the current 24 month clock to the 60-month time limit that is scheduled to take effect on May 1, 2022 or when the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement the 60-month time limit, whichever is later.
4. Repeals all program statute that pertain to the sunsetting 24 and 48 month time clocks, including a) the distinction between the 24 and 48 month time clocks, b) noticing and transition between the 24 and 48 month time clocks, c) the extender policy for the 24 month time clock, d) and the actual 48 month time limit, with the repeals to take effect on May 1, 2022 or when the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement the 60-month time limit, whichever is later.
5. Requires a written notice describing the 60-month time limit limitation and the process by which recipients may claim exemptions from, and extensions to, the time limit be provided at the time of application, during the recipient's annual redetermination, and at least once after the individual has participated for a total of 54 months, and prior to the end of the 57th month, that count toward the 60-month time limit. This noticing policy will take effect on May 1, 2022 or when the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement the 60-month time limit, whichever is later.
6. Removes obsolete statute related to temporary young child exemptions offered in prior years, which are no longer in effect. Includes a provision to permit a recipient to claim, if they met the standard and were on the program for any month between August 1, 2009 and January 1, 2015, under rules that were in place for those temporary young child exemptions, that certain months should be counted.
7. Clarifies the ability for a voluntary or sanctioned participant to access Stage 1 childcare services. Specifies that a sanctioned participant will have access to childcare if the participant has indicated an intent to engage in a program activity or employment but has not yet participated. Requires a participant, after securing childcare services, to document their commitment to participate by signing a welfare-to-work plan or a curing plan, whichever is appropriate, or other agreement that may be developed and approved for use on a statewide basis by the department.
8. Specifies additional intensive case management models that counties are required to contract for the provision of services with public or nonprofit agencies or school districts that administer services, including, among others, a home visiting model. Requires counties to include approved contractors in their planning of the Cal-Learn Program to ensure participation in the county's planning and implementation of the program. Declares the intent of the Legislature to review the implementation of the changes during the course of the 2020–21 fiscal year to determine how these changes impact service delivery and counties' ability to maintain service levels as they existed in 2019–20 and prior to these changes.
9. Specifies that the implementation of the CalWORKs Outcomes and Accountability Review (CalOAR) continuous quality improvement components, including county self-assessments, system improvement plans, peer reviews, progress reports, and data validation will be optional to counties during the 2020–21 fiscal year. This one-year suspension yields a $21 million General Fund one-time savings.
10. Changes the county CalWORKs self-assessment process and the county CalWORKs system improvement plan to be completed every five years, instead of every three years.
11. Exempts specified contracts or grants necessary for the Department of Social Services to implement or evaluate the Cal-OAR from prescribed requirements, including review and approval by the Department of General Services or the Department of Technology. Commencing on January 10, 2021, requires the Department of Social Services to provide a summary of executed and pending contracts and grants relating to the Cal-OAR on the Department of Social Services' website. Makes these provisions on contracts and grants inoperative on July 1, 2023 and repeals them as of January 1, 2024.
12. Delays the Stage One Child Care permanent removal from the CalWORKs Single Allocation for the 2020-21 fiscal year, to take effect in 2021-22.

CalFresh and Emergency Food

1. Requires a recipient, when completing the annual certificate of eligibility, to provide information on the certificate about income received during the 30 days, or the report month, prior to submission.
2. Requires a county to, prior to terminating benefits, attempt to make personal contact by a county worker via telephone or, if consent has been provided, text message or electronically, to remind the recipient that a completed certificate is due and attempt to collect the necessary information to complete the certificate. Requires that these methods be used to remind a recipient that a completed semiannual report form is due and attempt to collect the necessary information to complete the report.
3. Requires recipients to provide information about any changes in income from the amount last used to calculate the household's allotment for the semiannual report used to determine CalWORKs and CalFresh eligibility. Requires that this be implemented upon automation completion, and that the automation necessary shall be included in the development of a pre-populated semiannual report form. Permits the department to issue an all-county letter or similar instruction no later than April 1, 2022 to facilitate automation changes necessary to implement this policy.
4. Removes language that specified that the semiannual report form was to be signed no earlier than the first day of the sixth month of the semiannual reporting period.
5. Requires that any discontinuance be rescinded if the necessary information for the semiannual report form is obtained via an acceptable alternative method and is documented in the case file.
6. Requires the Department of Social Services to work with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, representatives of county eligibility workers, the Statewide Automated Welfare System, and client advocates to develop and implement the necessary system changes to prepopulate the semiannual report form. Requires, upon certification that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this policy, counties to provide recipients with a prepopulated semiannual report form instead of a blank form.
7. Changes the beginning base year for the updating of the budgeting methodology used to determine the annual funding for county administration of the CalFresh Program from the 2020–21 fiscal year to instead specify the 2021–22 fiscal year.
8. Requires the Department of Social Services to establish verification policies and procedures for CalFresh applicants and beneficiaries in the event that necessary verification is not provided by the applicant or beneficiary to accompany the application, semiannual report, annual recertification, or any other form or submission that requests verification be provided at the time of submission. These policies and procedures, to the extent permitted by federal law, regulation, guidance, or a waiver thereof, require counties to first seek verification from available electronic sources or self-attestation before requesting documentary evidence from the applicant or beneficiary to complete required verification or pursuing secondary evidence to verify the necessary information.
9. Requires the Department of Social Services to issue guidance to counties that a) simplifies the verification of dependent care expense deductions necessary to determine a household's eligibility for, or the benefit level of, CalFresh, b) establishes that dependent care expenses shall be considered verified upon receipt of a self-certified statement of monthly dependent care expenses, unless federal law or guidance requires additional documentation, and c) prohibits a county human services agency from requesting additional documents to verify dependent care expenses, except when the reported dependent care expenses are questionable as defined in state regulations.
10. Requires county welfare departments, no later than July 1, 2021, for purposes of interview scheduling and rescheduling at initial application and recertification, to implement one or more of the following interview scheduling techniques in addition to providing written notice, to the extent they are not currently in use: time-block, telephonic contact in conjunction with, or prior to, the provision of written communication about the need to schedule an interview, and same-day interviews. Allows the Department of Social Services, in consultation with the counties and client advocates, to authorize additional scheduling techniques to fulfill this requirement.
11. Extends the sunset date for the Safe Drinking Water Supplemental Benefit Pilot Program, a state-funded program to provide additional CalFresh nutrition benefits for interim assistance to purchase safe drinking water in areas where it is necessary, from July 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024.
12. For the 2021–21 and 2021–22 fiscal years, limits a county's share of cost contributions for the nonfederal costs for administering the CalFresh program to the amount of county funds that the county was required to match to receive its full General Fund allocation under the Budget Act of 2019, and provides that the General Fund allocation for administration of CalFresh, for the 2021–21 and 2021–22 fiscal year, be equal to 35% of the total federal and nonfederal projected funding for administration of CalFresh.
13. Requires the Department of Social Services to convene a workgroup that includes, but is not limited to, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, representatives of county eligibility workers, the Statewide Automated Welfare System, and client advocates to consider changes to semiannual reporting with the goal of reducing the reporting burden on recipients and reducing the workload for county eligibility staff. Requires that the workgroup consider federally allowable reporting structures implemented in other states, recommendations in existing research reports, and receive and consider options put forth by workgroup members. Requires the consensus recommendations of the workgroup to be submitted to the Legislature not later than October 1, 2021, and to include details regarding potential implementation of these recommendations, including identification of those that the state may implement via state legislation or administrative guidance to counties, as well as those requiring changes in federal law or waivers of federal law. Specifies that the report may also include ideas that were not consensus items with an opportunity for participating workgroup members to comment on those items.
14. Requires county welfare departments, in an effort to expand CalFresh program outreach and retention and improve dual enrollment between the CalFresh and Medi-Cal programs, to, no later than January 1, 2022 a) ensure that Medi-Cal applicants applying in-person, online, or by telephone, and who also may be eligible for CalFresh, are screened and given the opportunity to apply at the same time they are applying for Medi-Cal or submitting information for the renewal process, b) ensure the same staff that receive Medi-Cal and CalFresh applications during the Medi-Cal application, renewal, or application and renewal processes conduct the eligibility determination functions needed to determine eligibility or ineligibility to CalFresh, c) designate one or more county liaisons to establish CalFresh application referral and communication procedures on outreach activities between counties and community-based organizations facilitating Medi-Cal enrollment. Requires counties, upon certification to the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) can perform the necessary automation to implement these requirements, to provide prepopulated CalFresh applications to Medi-Cal beneficiaries who are apparently CalFresh eligible and not dually enrolled during the Medi-Cal renewal process.
15. Modifies the amount in current law ($125) that current and future CalFresh benefits could be reduced to recover an overissuance to a higher amount that is approved by the United States Department of Agriculture. Requires that any higher amount be implemented when the Department of Social Services notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this provision.
16. Modifies the amount in current law ($400) that, if a household is no longer receiving CalFresh benefits, a CalFresh overissuance caused by administrative error or inadvertent household error shall not be established, and collection shall not be attempted, to a higher amount that is approved by the United States Department of Agriculture. Requires that any higher amount be implemented when the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this provision.

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and Cash Assistance Program for Aged, Blind and Disabled Legal Immigrants (CAPI)

1. Adds information about written or spoken languages, if known, to the information about IHSS providers that shall be made available, upon request, to an exclusive bargaining agent and to any labor organization seeking representation rights, pursuant to current law.
2. Requires sick day coverage for waiver of personal care services individual providers who also provide in-home supportive services based on the aggregate number of monthly hours worked between in-home supportive services and waiver personal care services, the cost for which is $112,000 General Fund on-going in the Department of Health Care Services budget. Provides for this entitlement to paid sick days to begin July 1, 2019, consistent with the provision for IHSS workers.
3. Specifies that counties shall have until December 31, 2020, to complete the required reassessments for all In-Home Supportive Services recipients who were due for a reassessment pursuant to current law between the issuance of Executive Order No. N-29-20 and June 30, 2020, and for whom one was not completed due to the waiver authority set forth in the Executive Order.
4. Specifies that reassessments for IHSS recipients required pursuant to current law on or before December 31, 2020 may be conducted remotely using telehealth, including by video conference or telephone, subject to continuing federal approval.
5. Permits all eligibility interviews for applicants and recipients of the Cash Assistance Program for Aged, Blind and Disabled Legal Immigrants (CAPI) to be conducted electronically, including by telephone or videoconference, and all application and redetermination forms may be submitted by telephone, email, or facsimile, through December 31, 2020.
6. Requires that any applicant or recipient applying for CAPI through December 31, 2020 satisfies the eligibility verification requirement specified in current law that the applicant or recipient is ineligible for Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Program (SSI/SSP) solely due to their immigration status, by providing a verbal attestation that they have applied for SSI/SSP and their application is pending a final determination by the Social Security Administration, or that they have received a final determination and denial by the Social Security Administration.
7. Specifies noticing and scheduling requirements for IHSS provider orientations and provides for when such orientations are modified from onsite or in-person. Prohibits counties from discouraging prospective providers from attending, participating, or listening to the orientation presentation of the recognized employee organization. Specifies that prospective providers may, by their own accord, choose not to participate in the recognized employee organization presentation.
8. Requires the Department of Social Services to, in consultation with counties, develop a standardized curriculum, training materials, and work aids, and operate an ongoing, statewide training program on the supportive services uniformity system. Requires the Department of Social Services to develop a one-day refresher training program on service assessment and authorization, including the functional index ranks and statewide hourly task guidelines. Requires IHSS program case workers, case worker supervisors, program managers, quality assurance staff, and program integrity staff newly hired after the effective date of this act to complete the training within six months of being hired. Requires those hired prior to the effective date or who took the training prior to July 1, 2019 to take the refresher training program by December 31, 2021.
9. Permits a county to, until December 31, 2020, request, and the Department of Social Services to approve, a reduction of quality assurance and program integrity activities to address staffing shortages and enable the county to repurpose staff to support critical IHSS administrative functions, including intakes and reassessments. Specifies that any reduction shall be in effect for a period of no more than 12 months, to be determined by the department on a case-by-case basis.
10. Permits a county to, until December 31, 2020, perform required IHSS quality assurance and program integrity activities remotely using telehealth, including by video conference or telephone, subject to continuing federal approval.

Child Welfare Services and Foster Care

1. Permits a resource family home health and safety assessment to be completed by nonsocial work personnel that meet specified requirements, if the assessment is reviewed and approved by a social worker.
2. Permits the orientation of potential resource family applicants to be completed by nonsocial work personnel that meet specified requirements.
3. Specifies that a foster family agency shall employ one full-time social worker for every 18 children or fraction thereof in placement.
4. Changes the requirement for the review and updating of resource family approval to occur biennially, instead of annually.
5. Conforms the requirement for a foster family agency to conduct an announced inspection of a resource family home during the update of resource family approval, which will occur biennially, instead of annually.
6. Permits a county to complete an inspection of a supervised independent living placement to ensure that it meets health and safety standards through methods other than an in-person visit, including, but not limited to, videoconferencing and telephone calls that include pictures of the living space, and may, for the 2020–21 fiscal year, temporarily approve the supervised independent living placement pending the submission of required forms by the nonminor dependent, based on the nonminor dependent's agreement that the forms will be submitted.
7. Permits a county, at its option, to extend the services provided to former foster youth participating in the Transitional Housing Program-Plus as of July 1 2020, without regard to their age or length of time they have received services, until June 30, 2021.
8. Subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, provides that a rate paid to a transitional housing placement provider serving nonminor dependents shall be supplemented with a housing supplement, which shall be calculated by the Department of Social Services, as specified for nonminor dependents who are custodial parents and for nonminor dependents who are not custodial parents. Requires the Department of Social Services to work with the County Welfare Directors Association of California and the Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) to develop and implement the necessary system changes to implement the housing supplement, which begins on July 1, 2021, for the counties utilizing the CalWIN system, or when the department notifies the Legislature that CalWIN can perform the necessary automation to implement it, whichever is later. Requires that the supplement begin on September 1, 2022, for the counties utilizing the CalSAWS system, or when the department notifies the Legislature that CalSAWS can perform the necessary automation to implement it, whichever is later.
9. Extends for the 2020-21 fiscal year the requirement that Emergency Assistance Program funds for emergency caregivers who have not received approval or denial of the resource family application be provided beyond 120 days, for up to 365 days upon showing of good cause that the delay in approving or denying the family is due to circumstances outside of the direct control of the county. This is a one-time cost of $13.4 million General Fund.
10. States that, if at any point in 2020–21 fiscal year, the Department of Social Services and the Department of Finance identify additional federal funds due to the ability of the State Department of Social Services to implement a foster family agency Social Worker Time Study, it is the intent of the Legislature that these funds be utilized for the cost of the 4.15 percent rate increase provided in statute to foster family agencies . An update on the results of the Social Worker Time Study shall be provided to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature. The cost of the rate increase is $4.8 million General Fund. Implementation of this program will be suspended on December 31, 2021, subject to the terms of the suspension policy as specified in statute.
11. Requires the Department of Social Services to permit counties to maintain documentation relating to the resource family approval process in an electronic format.
12. Requires, before January 1, 2021, and to the extent enabled by existing resources or appropriated funds, the Department of Health Care Services, in consultation with the County of Los Angeles to determine the steps required to seek any federal approvals necessary to claim federal financial participation for allowable Medicaid activities of the Public Health Nursing Early Intervention Program in Los Angeles County, and states that the activities of the program shall be implemented only to the extent that the State Department of Health Care Services obtains any necessary federal Medicaid approvals. Adjusts the annual reporting requirement in existing law to begin January 1 of the fiscal year in which funding has been provided to the County of Los Angeles by the Department of Social Services. This program is funded with $8.3 million General Fund. Implementation of this program will be suspended on December 31, 2021, subject to the terms of the suspension policy as specified in statute.
13. Makes changes to facilitate expedited implementation of the Family Urgent Response System (FURS), which has a cost of $30 million General Fund for 2020-21. Specifies that the statewide hotline may operate sooner than January 1, 2021, or prior to the date that each county has created a county mobile response system, upon notification from each county to the Department of Social Services that the county either has established a county mobile response system pursuant to FURS or has an alternative method to accept and respond to referrals from the statewide hotline pending the establishment of the county mobile response system. Permits county-based mobile response systems to be temporarily adapted to address circumstances associated with COVID-19, consistent with the Governor's Proclamation of a State of Emergency, issued on March 4, 2020. Permits a county to establish a mobile response system, or an alternative method to accept and respond to referrals from the statewide hotline, pending the establishment of the county mobile response system, prior to January 1, 2021, in order to facilitate the early operation of the statewide hotline. FURS is funded with $30 million General Fund. Implementation of this program will be suspended on December 31, 2021, subject to the terms of the suspension policy as specified in statute.
14. Subjects the funding appropriated from the General Fund to the State Department of Social Services for the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program in the Budget Act to a suspension on December 31, 2021, unless a determination if made that the estimated General Fund revenues and expenditures for the 2021–22 and 2022–23 fiscal years that accompany the May Revision required to be released by May 14, 2021 contain projected annual General Fund revenues that exceed projected annual General Fund expenditures in the 2021–22 and 2022–23 fiscal years by an amount equal to or greater than the sum of the total of General Fund appropriations for all programs subject to suspension on December 31, 2021, pursuant to the Budget Act of 2020 and the bills providing for appropriations related to the Budget Act of 2020. States the intent of the Legislature to consider alternative solutions to restore this program if the suspension takes effect.

Adult Residential Facilities

1. Requires a licensee of an adult residential facility to inform the city and county in which the facility is located of a proposed closure, including whether the licensee intends to sell the property or business, no later than 180 days before its proposed closure, or as soon as practicably possible.
2. Requires a licensee of a licensed residential care facility for the elderly to inform the city and county in which the facility is located of a proposed closure, including whether the licensee intends to sell the property or business, no later than 180 days before the proposed closure, or as soon as practicably possible.

Department of Developmental Services

1. Requires the Department of Developmental Services, effective January 1, 2021, to provide a rate increase to independent living programs, infant development programs, and early start specialized therapeutic services, with a cost of $10.8 million General Fund in 2020-21 and $21.6 million in 2021-22. The percentages of the rate increases shall be established by the department and posted on the department's website. Implementation of these rate increases will be suspended on December 31, 2021, subject to the terms of the suspension policy.
2. Removes the sunset date of the enhanced behavioral support home (EBSH) with delayed egress and secure perimeter pilot project, making the program permanent.
3. Increases the number of EBSHs with delayed egress and secure perimeter that may be certified to 11. Previously, only six of these homes were allowed statewide.
4. Increases the maximum number of beds in facilities that utilized delayed egress and secure perimeter to 174 statewide. Previously, the maximum number of these beds allowed statewide was 150.
5. Revises provisions dealing with diversion process for defendants that have been evaluated by a regional center to have a developmental disability, expanding the offenses to which the diversion program would apply and aligning with current law for defendants with mental health disorders.
6. Temporarily increases the maximum population of the secure treatment facility at Porterville Developmental Center from 211 to 231 until June 30, 2023.
7. Authorizes the Department of Developmental Services to execute leases, lease-purchases, or leases with the option to purchase for real property necessary for the establishment or maintenance of Stabilization, Training, Assistance, and Reintegration (STAR) homes to serve as acute crisis homes operated by the department. Additionally exempts the Department of Developmental Services from the requirement to receive lease approval from the Department of General Services for the lease, lease-purchase, or lease with the option to purchase the STAR homes known as North STAR Home 1 and North STAR Home 2, both located in Vacaville, CA.
8. Requires regional centers to review an individual program plan no later than seven days after a request is submitted if the review is deemed necessary for the consumer's health and safety or to maintain the consumer in their home.
9. Requires the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to issue an interim report on the status of the Self-Determination Program, barriers to implementation, and recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of the program by June 30, 2021.
10. Extends the deadline for submission of the State Council's final report on the Self-Determination program to December 31, 2022.
11. Appropriates $234,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Developmental Services to implement the provisions of this act relating to information security. These funds shall be available for encumbrance or expenditure until June 30, 2021, and available for liquidation until June 30, 2023.

Department of Aging

1. Subjects $17.5 million of the funding appropriated from the General Fund to the California Department of Aging for the Senior Nutrition Program, to a suspension on December 31, 2021, unless a determination if made that the estimated General Fund revenues and expenditures for the 2021–22 and 2022–23 fiscal years that accompany the May Revision required to be released by May 14, 2021 contain projected annual General Fund revenues that exceed projected annual General Fund expenditures in the 2021–22 and 2022–23 fiscal years by an amount equal to or greater than the sum of the total of General Fund appropriations for all programs subject to suspension on December 31, 2021, pursuant to the Budget Act of 2020 and the bills providing for appropriations related to the Budget Act of 2020. States the intent of the Legislature to consider alternative solutions to restore this program if the suspension takes effect.

Department of Child Support Services

1. Increases the child support disregard, which is the pass-through payment to families in the CalWORKs program, from the current first $50 of any amount of child support collected in a month to the first $100 for a family with one child or the first $200 for a family with two or more children, effective January 1, 2022, or when the State Department of Social Services and the Department of Child Support Services notify the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System and Child Support Enforcement System can perform the necessary automation to implement the change in the child support disregard.
2. Requires the Department of Social Services to issue an all-county letter or similar instruction no later than September 1, 2020 to facilitate automation changes necessary to implement the January 1, 2022 change in the child support disregard.

General Provisions

1. Specifies which sections of this act (a) require an all county letter and final instructions to be issued by a specified date to facilitate implementation, (b) may be implemented by all county letter or other instructions, (c) may be implemented by all county letter with authority for emergency regulations, and (d) may be implemented by all county letter with final regulations in place no later than 18 months after all necessary automation is complete.
2. States that this act is a bill providing for appropriations related to the Budget Bill within the meaning of subdivision (e) of Section 12 of Article IV of the California Constitution, and has been identified as related to the budget in the Budget Bill, and shall take effect immediately.

COMMENTS:

This is the Human Services trailer bill for the 2020 budget package and contains statutory provisions necessary to implement the budget.

According to the Author:

This is the Human Services trailer bill for the 2020 budget package and contains statutory provisions necessary to implement the budget.

Arguments in Support:

None on file.

Arguments in Opposition:

None on file.

FISCAL COMMENTS:

Scoring for this bill was not available at the time of this analysis.

VOTES:

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 54-13-13

YES: Aguiar-Curry, Bauer-Kahan, Bloom, Boerner Horvath, Bonta, Burke, Calderon, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chu, Cooper, Daly, Eggman, Frazier, Friedman, Gabriel, Cristina Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez, Gray, Grayson, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Kamlager-Dove, Limón, Maienschein, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, O'Donnell, Petrie-Norris, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Reyes, Luz Rivas, Robert Rivas, Rodriguez, Blanca Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Smith, Mark Stone, Ting, Weber, Wicks, Wood, Rendon

NO: Bigelow, Brough, Dahle, Flora, Fong, Gallagher, Kiley, Mathis, Melendez, Obernolte, Patterson, Voepel, Waldron

ABS, ABST OR NV: Arambula, Berman, Chen, Chiu, Choi, Cooley, Cunningham, Diep, Eduardo Garcia, Lackey, Levine, Low, Mayes

UPDATED:

VERSION: June 22, 2020

CONSULTANT: Nicole Vazquez / BUDGET / (916) 319-2099 FN: 0003125

SENATE COMMITTEE ON

Senator Holly Mitchell, Chair

2019 - 2020 Regular

Bill No: Hearing Date: June 24, 2020

Subject: Human services omnibus

Summary:

Provides for statutory changes necessary to enact human-services related provisions of the Budget Act of 2020.

Background:

As part of the 2020-21 budget package, this bill makes statutory changes to implement the budget act.

Proposed Law:

For the Department of Developmental Services (DDS):

1. Supplemental Rate Increases for Specified Providers. Requires DDS, effective January 1, 2021, to provide a rate increase to independent living programs, infant development programs, and early start specialized therapeutic services. The percentages of the rate increases shall be established by the department and posted on the department’s website. Implementation of these rate increases will be suspended on December 31, 2021, subject to the terms of the suspension policy.
2. Incompetent to Stand Trial Capacity/Diversion Process. Increases the allowable number of certified Enhanced Behavioral Support Homes (EBSHs) with delayed egress and secure perimeter to 11 statewide, and also increases the maximum number of beds in facilities that utilized delayed egress and secure perimeter to 174 statewide. Temporarily increases the maximum population of the secure treatment facility at Porterville Developmental Center from 211 to 231 until June 30, 2023. Revises provisions relating to the diversion process for defendants that have been evaluated by a regional center to have a developmental disability, expanding the offenses to which the diversion program would apply and aligning with current law for defendants with mental health disorders.
3. Stabilization, Training, Assistance, and Reintegration (STAR) Home Leases. Authorizes DDS to execute leases, lease-purchases, or leases with the option to purchase real property necessary for the establishment or maintenance of Stabilization, Training, Assistance, and Reintegration (STAR) homes.
4. Expedited Regional Center Individual Program Plan (IPP) Process. Requires regional centers to review an individual program plan no later than seven days after a request is submitted if the review is deemed necessary for the consumer’s health and safety or to maintain the consumer in their home.

For the State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD):

1. Self Determination Program Report. Requires the SCDD to issue an interim report on the status of the Self-Determination Program, barriers to implementation, and recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of the program by June 30, 2021. The bill also extends the deadline for submission of the Council’s final report on the Self-Determination program to December 31, 2022.

For the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS):

1. CalWORKs Child Support Pass-through. Beginning January 1, 2022, increases the amount of child support passed through to CalWORKs recipients - $100 for a family with one child and $200 for a family with two or more children. Under current law, only the first $50 of child support collected per month is paid to a CalWORKs recipient. The remaining balance of the collected child support goes to local and state government as a reimbursement for provided aid.

For the Department of Social Services (DSS):

CalWORKs: This bill includes provisions pertaining to the CalWORKs program, including:

1. Restoration of the 60 Month Time Limit. Authorizes moving to a single 60-month CalWORKs time limit, effective May 1, 2022, or when the department notifies the Legislature that all necessary automation changes are complete. The bill also eliminates the 24-month limitation on certain welfare-to-work activities, effective May 1, 2022, or when the department notifies the Legislature that all necessary automation changes are complete. Makes other conforming changes to program statute to reflect the 60-month time limit.
2. 12-month Continuous Eligibility for CalWORKs Stage One Childcare. Clarifies that sanctioned participants can access childcare if they have indicated an intent to engage in a program activity or employment, but have not yet participated.
3. CalWORKs Accountability and Outcome Review (Cal-OAR). Makes the Cal-OAR continuous quality improvement components optional to counties during the 2020-21 fiscal year. Requires the department to provide a summary of executed and pending contracts and grants to implement Cal-OAR on the department website.
4. CalWORKs Single Allocation. Delays removal of funding for stage one childcare from the Single Allocation from 2020-21 to take effect in 2021-22.
5. Identity Verification Methods. Clarifies that the methods approved by the department as of July 1, 2018 satisfy the requirement for nonbiometric identity verification methods in the CalWORKs program. Repeals obsolete sections related to this issue.
6. Cal-Learn Program. Specifies additional intensive case management models that counties are required to contract for the provision of services with public or nonprofit agencies or school districts that administer services, including, among others, a home visiting model. Requires counties to include approved contractors in their planning of the Cal-Learn Program to ensure participation in the county’s planning and implementation of the program.

CalFresh: This bill includes provisions pertaining to the CalFresh program, including:

1. CalFresh Simplifications. Makes several simplifications to the CalFresh program to help those enrolled retain benefits and those who are eligible access the program. Simplifications include requiring counties to attempt to make personal contact via telephone or other electronic means prior to terminating benefits, and requiring any discontinuance be rescinded if the necessary information for the semiannual report form is obtained via an acceptable alternative method.
2. CalFresh Overissuances. Modifies the amount in current law ($125) that current and future CalFresh benefits could be reduced to recover an overissuance to a higher amount that is approved by the United States Department of Agriculture. Modifies the amount in current law ($400) that, if a household is no longer receiving CalFresh benefits, a CalFresh overissuance caused by administrative error or inadvertent household error shall not be established, and collection shall not be attempted, to a higher amount that is approved by the United States Department of Agriculture.
3. CalFresh County Match Waiver. For the 2020-21 and 2021-22 fiscal years, caps the amount of a county’s share of administration costs at the amount the county was required to contribute to receive its full allocation under the 2019 Budget Act.
4. CalFresh County Administration Funding. Changes the beginning base year for the updating of the budgeting methodology used to determine the annual funding for county administration of the CalFresh Program from 2020–21 to 2021–22.
5. Safe Drinking Water Supplemental Benefit Pilot. Extends the sunset date for the Safe Drinking Water Supplemental Benefit Pilot program to provide additional CalFresh nutritional benefits for interim assistance to purchase safe drinking water from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2024.

Child Welfare Services/Foster Care: This bill includes provisions pertaining to child welfare services and foster care, including:

1. Rate Increases for Foster Family Agencies (FFAs): States the intent of the Legislature that any additional federal funds identified due to the implementation of a Social worker Time Study to be applied to offset General Fund appropriated for the cost of the 4.15 percent FFA social worker rate increase.
2. Flexibilities for FFAs: For FFAs, institutes a ratio of one full-time social worker for every 18 children in placement. Allows non-social work personnel to complete a resource family home health and safety assessment if the assessment is reviewed and approved by a social worker, given those non-social work personnel have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or a related field.
3. Flexibilities for County Child Welfare Services Programs: Allows for biennial updates of resource family approvals. For the 2020-21 fiscal year, allows counties to conduct inspections of supervised independent living placements through methods other than in-person visits.
4. Nonminor Dependent (NMD) Transitional Housing Program Supplement: Allows the rates paid for providing services to NMDs to be supplemented with a housing supplement, based on fair market rent.
5. Transitional Housing Program-Plus. Permits a county, at its option, to extend the services provided to former foster youth participating in the Transitional Housing Program-Plus as of July 1 2020, without regard to their age or length of time they have received services, until June 30, 2021.
6. Emergency Caregiver Payments: During the 2020-21 fiscal year, allows emergency caregiver payments made prior to placement approval to be provided beyond 120 days and up to 365 days when the delay in approval is outside of county control.
7. Family Urgent Response System (FURS): Allows for the implementation of FURS before January 1, 2021, as long as counties have established a mobile response system or an alternative method to accept and respond to referrals from the statewide hotline. Implementation of this program will be suspended on December 31, 2021, subject to the terms of the suspension policy as specified in statute.
8. Los Angeles (L.A.) County Public Health Nursing Early Intervention Program. Requires, before January 1, 2021, and to the extent enabled by existing resources or appropriated funds, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), in consultation with LA County to determine the steps required to seek any federal approvals necessary to claim federal financial participation for allowable Medicaid activities of the program, and states that the activities of the program shall be implemented only to the extent that DHCS obtains any necessary federal Medicaid approvals.

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS): This bill includes provisions pertaining to IHSS, including:

1. Sick Day Parity for Waiver Personal Care Services (WPCS) Providers. Requires sick day coverage for WPCS providers who also provide in-home supportive services.
2. IHSS Reassessments. Gives counties until December 31, 2020, to complete required IHSS assessments that were due between the issuance of Executive Order N-29-20 and June 30,2020, or were not completed due to the waiver authority set forth in that Executive Order. Allows those reassessments to be conducted remotely, subject to federal approval.
3. IHSS Provider Orientations. Requires counties to provide no less than 10 days notice of provider orientations to the recognized employee organization. Also requires this advance notice if the orientation is modified from an onsite, in-person orientation. Specifies that prospective providers may, by their own accord, choose not to participate in the recognized employee organization presentation.
4. IHSS Mandatory Training. Mandates new IHSS case workers, case worker supervisors, quality assurance and program integrity staff, and program managers receive training within the first six months of employment. Would also require any existing staff who have not had training or completed training prior to July 1, 2019, to complete a one-day refresher training.
5. IHSS Quality Assurance Activities. Permits a county to, until December 31, 2020, request, and the Department of Social Services to approve, a reduction of quality assurance and program integrity activities to address staffing shortages and enable the county to repurpose staff to support critical IHSS administrative functions, including intakes and reassessments. Also allows counties to conduct these activities remotely, subject to federal approval.

Additionally, for DSS, this bill:

1. Notification of Closure of Adult Residential Facilities (ARFs) and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs). Requires licensees of ARFs and RCFEs to inform the city and county in which the facility is located of a proposed closure or intent to sell the property or business, no later than 180 days before, or as soon as practically possible.

Fiscal Effect:

Funding related to the changes in this bill is contained in the 2020-21 budget.

Support:

None on file.

Opposed:

None on file.

-- END --

(Without Reference to File)

CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS

CSA1 Bill Id:AB 79

Author:(Ting)

As Amended Ver:June 17, 2019

2/3 vote. Budget Bill Appropriation Takes Effect Immediately

SUMMARY:

This bill makes various statutory changes to the Mental Health Services Act and the provision of mental health services. Specifically, this bill:

1. Innovation Funding Timeline Extensions. Extends the deadline for counties to expend Mental Health Services Act Innovation funding from three years (for large counties) and five years (for small counties) to a deadline established by the terms of the project plan approved by the Commission. Applies to all county innovation plans that have received Commission approval and are in process at the time of enactment of this act, and to all plans that receive Commission approval thereafter. Also applies to innovation plans funded with reversion funds.
2. Early Psychosis and Mood Disorder Detection Funding Source. Deletes a statutory prohibition on the use of non-General Fund state funds for early psychosis and mood disorder detection.
3. Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission Senate Appointments. Clarifies that the Chairperson of the Senate Health Committee, the Senate Human Services Committee, or another member of the Senate selected by the President pro Tempore of the Senate shall serve on the Commission, rather than the "Chairpersons of the Senate Health and Human Services Committees."
4. Urgency Clause. Establishes this act an urgency statute due to the fact that it is expected to assist counties to more effectively continue operating essential mental health programs at the earliest possible time.

The Senate Amendments:

COMMENTS:

This bill implements changes to the Mental Health Services Act, and to the provision of mental health services, affecting the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission.

According to the Author:

Arguments in Support:

Arguments in Opposition:

FISCAL COMMENTS:

VOTES:

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 54-13-13

YES: Aguiar-Curry, Bauer-Kahan, Bloom, Boerner Horvath, Bonta, Burke, Calderon, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chu, Cooper, Daly, Eggman, Frazier, Friedman, Gabriel, Cristina Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez, Gray, Grayson, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Kamlager-Dove, Limón, Maienschein, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, O'Donnell, Petrie-Norris, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Reyes, Luz Rivas, Robert Rivas, Rodriguez, Blanca Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Smith, Mark Stone, Ting, Weber, Wicks, Wood, Rendon

NO: Bigelow, Brough, Dahle, Flora, Fong, Gallagher, Kiley, Mathis, Melendez, Obernolte, Patterson, Voepel, Waldron

ABS, ABST OR NV: Arambula, Berman, Chen, Chiu, Choi, Cooley, Cunningham, Diep, Eduardo Garcia, Lackey, Levine, Low, Mayes

UPDATED:

VERSION: June 17, 2019

CONSULTANT: Andrea Margolis / BUDGET / (916) 319-2099 FN: 0001145

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: AB 79

Author: Ting (D), et al.

Amended: 6/17/19 in Senate

Vote: 27 - Urgency

SENATE BUDGET & FISCAL REVIEW COMMITTEE: 13-0, 6/19/19

AYES: Mitchell, Nielsen, Beall, Durazo, Hurtado, Jones, Leyva, Moorlach, Morrell, Pan, Skinner, Stone, Wieckowski

NO VOTE RECORDED: McGuire, Monning, Roth, Stern, Umberg

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: Not relevant

SUBJECT: Mental health

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill makes necessary changes to implement the 2019-20 Budget related to mental health programs administered by the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC).

ANALYSIS: This bill, specifically:

1. Allows a county to encumber Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funds for innovative programs within the timeframes approved by the MHSOAC in the county’s innovation project plan, or within three years, whichever is later.
2. Allows, for counties with a population of less than 200,000, MHSA funds for innovative programs to be encumbered within the timeframes approved in the county’s innovation project plan, or within five years, whichever is later.
3. Eliminates the prohibition on the use of state funds for early psychosis and mood disorder detection and intervention programs.
4. Clarifies the Senate’s appointment authority to the MHSOAC.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 6/17/19)

None received

OPPOSITION: (Verified 6/17/19)

None received

Prepared by: Scott Ogus / B. & F.R. / 916-651-4103

6/19/19 16:38:09

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON

Senator Holly Mitchell, Chair

2019 - 2020 Regular

Bill No: Hearing Date: June 19, 2019

Subject:

Summary:

This bill makes necessary changes to implement the 2019-20 budget related to mental health programs administered by the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC).

Proposed Law:

Specifically this bill:

1. Allows a county to encumber Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) funds for innovative programs within the timeframes approved by the MHSOAC in the county’s innovation project plan, or within three years, whichever is later.
2. For counties with a population of less than 200,000, allows MHSA funds for innovative programs to be encumbered within the timeframes approved in the county’s innovation project plan, or within five years, whichever is later.
3. Eliminates the prohibition on the use of state funds for early psychosis and mood disorder detection and intervention programs.
4. Clarifies the Senate’s appointment authority to the MHSOAC.

Fiscal Effect:

None.

Support:

None on file.

Opposed:

None on file.

-- END --

ASSEMBLY THIRD READING

ATR Bill Id:AB 79

Author:(Ting)

As Introduced Ver:December 3, 2018

Majority vote. Budget Bill Appropriation Takes Effect Immediately

SUMMARY:

This bill expresses the intent of the Legislature to enact statutory changes relating to the Budget Act of 2019.

Major Provisions

COMMENTS:

According to the Author:

Arguments in Support:

Arguments in Opposition:

FISCAL COMMENTS:

VOTES:

UPDATED:

VERSION: December 3, 2018

CONSULTANT: Christian Griffith / BUDGET / (916) 319-2099 FN: 0000122