To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Mental Health
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Letters of Support for Behavioral Health State Legislative Bills Requested by the County Behavioral Health Board
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Authorize the Chair of the Board to sign the attached letters of support for various state legislative bills relating to mental health, as requested by the Humboldt County Behavioral Health Board.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Mental Health Fund
DISCUSSION:
On July 18, 2019 the Humboldt County Behavioral Health Board met to discuss a variety of legislative bills and voted to request that the Board of Supervisors support five bills related to the provision of mental health and substance use disorder services in Humboldt County. The five bills include:
Assembly Bill 577 (Eggman), related to health care coverage for maternal mental health, would allow mental health care coverage for Medi-Cal beneficiaries to continue for up to 12 months postpartum.
Assembly Bill 1098 (O’Donnell), related to substance use disorder youth programs, creates the guidelines for dispersing grant funds from the Proposition 64 Adult Use of Marijuana Act Youth Education, Prevention, Early Intervention and Treatment account. The grants are directed primarily to schools and must be to support either an evidence-based or evidence-informed program.
Assembly Bill 1352 (Waldron) would affirm the independence of county behavioral health boards and clarify their responsibilities to include the authority to review and evaluate the entirety of the local public mental health system, including schools, emergency departments and psychiatric facilities. A written response by county departments would be required if substantive recommendations by the behavioral health are not included in the county’s Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) plan or updates.
Senate Bill 389 (Hertzberg) would allow MHSA funding to be used for services for people on parole.
Finally, Senate Bill 445 (Portantino) would create an expert advisory panel to assist the state with establishing youth substance use disorder treatment quality standards. Once the standards are created (on or before January 1, 2023), a county would not be able to contract with a provider that didn’t meet the minimum standards.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no impact to the county General Fund associated with sending the letters.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by protecting vulnerable populations
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Humboldt County Behavioral Health Board
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The board could chose not to send letters supporting some or all of the legislation that the behavioral health board has requested.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Letter requesting board action from county Behavioral Health Board
2. AB 577 (Eggman) Medi-Cal: Maternal Mental Health, draft support letter
3. AB 1098 (O’Donnell) Substance use disorders: youth programs, draft support letter
4. AB 1352 (Waldron) Community mental health services: mental health boards, draft support letter
5. SB 389 (Hertzberg) Mental Health Services Act, draft support letter
6. SB 445 (Portantino) Alcohol and drug treatment: youth, draft support letter
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: 19-1190