THIRD READING

Bill No: ACR 23

Author: Quirk-Silva (D), et al.

Introduced: 1/30/25

Vote: 21

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 69-0, 5/8/25 (Consent) - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: Mental Health Peer Appreciation Week

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This resolution recognizes the 3^rd week of May 2025 as Mental Health Peer Appreciation Week in California.

ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative findings:

Peers, individuals living with mental or behavioral health challenges, possess the unique understanding and empathy, or lived experience, to encourage, engage, and support other peers on their journey to recovery, health, and wellness.
There is a need to increase peer civic engagement in order to ensure that decision makers have the insights necessary to make people-centered, informed decisions, understanding how these decisions affect the lives of countless adults, children, adolescents, and families within the health and human services industry.
Medi-Cal peer support specialists are trained providers who use their lived experience to engage peers using the recovery model and the principles and values of peer support to provide hope and support and to be a role model of recovery.
California is facing a behavioral health workforce shortage, and peers can become certified Medi-Cal peer support specialists and work with county behavioral health agencies to help close the gap in access to services and supports.

This resolution recognizes the third week of May 2025, during National Mental Health Awareness Month, as Mental Health Peer Appreciation Week in California.

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

SUPPORT: (Verified 5/21/25)

Cal Voices

California Behavioral Health Planning Council

California Youth Empowerment Network

Mental Health America of California

National Alliance on Mental Illness

OPPOSITION: (Verified 5/21/25)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 69-0, 5/8/25

AYES: Addis, Aguiar-Curry, Ahrens, Alanis, Alvarez, Ávila Farías, Bains, Bauer-Kahan, Bennett, Berman, Bonta, Bryan, Calderon, Caloza, Castillo, Chen, Connolly, Davies, DeMaio, Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Fong, Gabriel, Garcia, Gipson, Mark González, Hadwick, Haney, Harabedian, Hart, Hoover, Jackson, Kalra, Krell, Lackey, Lee, Lowenthal, Macedo, McKinnor, Muratsuchi, Nguyen, Ortega, Pacheco, Papan, Patel, Patterson, Pellerin, Petrie-Norris, Quirk-Silva, Ramos, Ransom, Michelle Rodriguez, Rogers, Blanca Rubio, Schiavo, Schultz, Sharp-Collins, Solache, Soria, Stefani, Ta, Tangipa, Valencia, Ward, Wicks, Wilson, Zbur, Rivas

NO VOTE RECORDED: Arambula, Boerner, Carrillo, Flora, Gallagher, Jeff Gonzalez, Irwin, Celeste Rodriguez, Sanchez, Wallis

Prepared by: Hunter Flynn / SFA / (916) 651-1520

5/21/25 15:50:25

**** END ****

ACR 23: Mental Health Peer Appreciation Week.

Current Status:

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