Key points about Newsom’s $4 billion mental health bill:

California Lawmakers Seek to​ Overhaul Behavioral and Mental Health System

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and California lawmakers are embarking‍ on a mission to revamp the state’s behavioral and mental health system. As part of this ​effort, they are proposing a​ $4.68 billion bond ‌measure to increase the availability of treatment beds. ‍To discuss the newly amended ‌language and the potential ⁣impact of these changes, a joint committee hearing will be⁢ held on⁣ Tuesday.

Newsom’s Mental Health Reform Legislation

Earlier this year, Gov. Newsom introduced a bill to reform the state’s mental health system,⁢ aiming to update a 20-year-old ​ballot​ initiative. In 2004, voters passed the​ Mental Health⁣ Services⁤ Act, which ​imposed ⁤a 1% tax​ on income over $1 million to fund mental health‌ resources. Newsom’s bill seeks to⁤ allocate 30% of the funding from this tax towards⁢ housing‍ for homeless individuals​ with mental⁤ illness and addictions.

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Over the past five years, the‌ tax revenue has generated a significant amount,⁢ totaling over $20 billion, ⁣with $4.8 billion⁢ raised last year alone. Newsom’s proposal redirects the income⁤ tax revenue from ⁢the 2004 act and proposes⁣ a ‌$4.68 billion bond measure​ to expand treatment beds for those ‌struggling ⁣with mental health.

What Do the Mental Health Amendments⁢ Entail?

Proposed by Newsom ⁣and introduced by ⁣Democratic state Sen. Susan Eggman as Senate Bill 326, the amendments aim to modernize California’s behavioral health system. Democratic‌ Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin also introduced ​AB 531 as part of a joint package with Newsom and Eggman to ⁢provide additional mental health resources. If passed, the bill would create state-of-the-art residential settings with thousands of new‍ community behavioral​ health beds, catering to Californians with mental illness⁤ and substance use disorders, potentially⁢ serving over 10,000 people annually.

Under ‍the amendments, ​California counties would allocate two-thirds of the tax revenue towards 24/7​ mental health services, allowing for the transfer of funds ⁤between housing and prevention. Additionally, 51% ⁤of ​the early intervention funds would be‍ dedicated to ​children and youth prevention programs. The legislation also proposes renaming the Mental Health Services Oversight and ⁤Accountability Commission to the Behavioral Health Services ​Oversight and ⁢Accountability Commission, while requiring‍ the​ state’s department of health to establish housing⁢ interventions that offer various social services.

Critics’ Concerns

Some critics argue that the proposed amendments would result in reduced funding for ​existing programs. The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) ⁣released reports expressing concerns about the potential negative impact on mental health ‍services. The LAO report stated, “On net, we ⁢find that whether the current⁢ level of county MHSA⁢ spending — particularly at the county level —⁤ on children and youth services would be maintained is uncertain.” The ⁣LAO also criticized​ Newsom’s plan‌ to reduce oversight, suggesting that the legislature should have more control ⁢over the bond measure and its allocation.

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Next Steps

The Assembly’s Housing and Health committees ⁤will convene in Sacramento at the ‍state Capitol on Tuesday⁢ to discuss the future of the reform bill, following the Senate ‍Health ​Committee’s information hearing last week. To secure a spot on the March 2024 ballot, the measure would require the​ support of two-thirds of ⁣California lawmakers. Irwin ‌and Eggman’s bills would be‍ combined ⁣into‍ a single ballot measure to transform the MHSA, and a majority⁣ of voters in California would need to support the bill for it to become ‌law.