This bill designates June 2026 as Men's Mental Health Month to raise awareness about mental health issues affecting men. The measure is a formal proclamation that does not change laws or allocate funding, but rather encourages public recognition of the topic. Once passed, it serves as an official declaration without imposing new requirements on individuals or organizations.
Existing law requires the State Department of Education, on or before January 1, 2024, to develop a plan to expand mental health instruction in California public schools. This bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2028, to develop a plan to expand digital wellness instruction in California public schools, as provided.
This bill designates the week of May 3 through May 9, 2026, as Youth Mental Health Awareness Week in California. It directly affects state officials and the public by officially recognizing this specific time period to highlight mental health issues among young people. The measure does not change laws or allocate funding but serves to raise awareness through an official state designation. Once enacted, this resolution allows for public events and discussions focused on youth mental health during the specified dates.
Existing law provides that reproductive health care services, gender-affirming health care services, and gender-affirming mental health care services are rights secured by the Constitution and laws of California, and interference with these rights, whether or not under the color of law, is against the public policy of California. Existing law defines "gender-affirming health care services" to mean medically necessary health care that respects the gender identity of the patient, as experienced and defined by the patient, as specified. Existing law provides for various protective measures for persons engaging in legally protected health care activity, including prohibiting a provider of health care, health care service plan, health insurer, or contractor from releasing medical information related to, among other things, an individual seeking or obtaining gender-affirming health care or gender-affirming mental health care, and prohibiting a state or local public agency, or any employee thereof acting in their official capacity, from cooperating with or providing information to an individual or agency from another state or a federal law enforcement agency, as specified, regarding a legally protected health care activity that is lawful in this state and performed in this state. Existing law defines "legally protected health care activity" for those purposes to include, among other things, the exercise and enjoyment, or attempted exercise and enjoyment, by a person of rights to the health care services described above and the provision of those health care services by a person duly licensed under the laws of California. This bill would require a person or entity that is located, headquartered, incorporated, or otherwise conducting business in California and receives, is served with, or is subject to a subpoena, discovery request, or other request for information that is part of a legal process related to a civil, criminal, regulatory, or legislative investigation regarding abortion, as defined, or gender-affirming health care services that are legally protected health care activities secured by the Constitution or laws of California to provide specified notice to the Attorney General at least 7 business days prior to producing records in response to the request unless a shorter response time is required by federal law or other federal obligation, as specified. If a shorter response time is required by federal law or other federal obligation, the bill would require the responding person or entity to provide notice to the Attorney General no later than contemporaneously with producing the responsive records. The bill would exempt a person or entity from the notice requirement if the subpoena, discovery request, or other request for information meets certain requirements, including that it is accompanied by an attestation verifying that the use or disclosure of the requested information meets certain requirements, including that the requested information is related to an investigation or proceeding regarding activity that is unlawful under California civil or criminal law, and it identifies the California law under which the activity is unlawful. The bill would prohibit a person or entity receiving, served with, or subject to a subpoena, discovery request, or other request for information described above who is not subject to the above-described exemption from producing the responsive records until at least 7 business days after providing notice to the Attorney General unless a shorter response time is required by federal law or other federal obligation, as specified. If a shorter response time is required by federal law or other federal obligation, the bill would require the responding person or entity to make best efforts to deliver the responsive records on the date on which the person or entity is required to respond to the subpoena, discovery request, or other request for information. The bill would authorize the Attorney General to make reasonable attempts to notify the individual who provided, sought, received, facilitated, or otherwise engaged in the abortion or gender-affirming health care service pertaining to the subpoena, discovery request, or other request for information. The bill would entitle a person or entity subject to these provisions to rely on the representations made in an attestation described above. The bill would authorize the Attorney General to intervene in any civil action instituted by a person or entity to protect against compliance with or providing information in response to the subpoena, discovery request, or other request for information. The bill would authorize the Attorney General to commence certain actions, including a civil action against any person or entity that attaches a false attestation described above, and would make the attachment of a false attestation by a person or entity punishable by a civil penalty of $15,000, as specified. The bill would require any action brought by the Attorney General to be commenced within 6 years of the date on which the Attorney General received the notice of the subpoena, discovery request, or other request for information at issue, and would require the court to award court costs and attorney's fees to the Attorney General in any civil action in which the court imposes any penalty authorized by the bill's provisions.
Existing law requires that, as a condition of parole, a prisoner who has a severe mental health disorder, as specified, be treated by the State Department of State Hospitals, if the prisoner meets certain requirements, including, among others, that the person in charge of treating the prisoner and a practicing psychiatrist or psychologist from the State Department of State Hospitals have evaluated the prisoner and that a chief psychiatrist of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation certify to the Board of Parole Hearings that by reason of the prisoner's severe mental health disorder, the prisoner represents a substantial danger of physical harm to others. This bill would require that certain factors be considered in determining whether an offender poses a substantial danger of physical harm to others, including, but not limited to, a history of violent behavior and prior history of state hospital commitment. Existing law allows a prisoner to request a hearing before the Board of Parole Hearings for the purpose of proving that the prisoner meets the criteria to be treated by the State Department of State Hospitals. Existing law allows a prisoner who disagrees with the determination of the Board of Parole Hearings to file a petition in court for a hearing on whether they met the criteria and, if the court reverses the determination of the Board of Parole Hearings, existing law authorizes the court to require the parties to return to court to ensure that the entities involved in the release of the prisoner have coordinated an exit plan for the prisoner. This bill would require that an exit plan include the submission of an application for Medi-Cal benefits and a recommendation, as appropriate, to the supervising county's behavioral health department by a licensed behavioral health professional, as specified, supervising the treatment of, or treating, the prisoner for a mental health disorder for certain resources and programs, including substance use disorder treatment, assisted outpatient treatment, and early psychosis intervention services. Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) , 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 MHSA establishes the Mental Health Services Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services (department) , to fund specified county mental health programs. Existing law, the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) , a legislative act amending the MHSA that was approved by the voters as Proposition 1 at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election, recast the MHSA by, among other things, renaming the fund to the Behavioral Health Services Fund and reallocating how moneys from that fund may be spent. The BHSA requires each county to establish and administer a full-service partnership program that includes, among other things, outpatient behavioral health services, as specified, and housing interventions. Existing law establishes criteria for an individual with a serious mental illness to be presumptively eligible for a full-service partnership, including, among other things, the person is transitioning to the community after 6 months or more in the state prison or county jail. This bill would add to the criteria for presumptively eligibility for a full-service partnership an individual transitioning to the community after 6 months or more in a state hospital. Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law, the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Act, supports the stated goals of identifying and managing the risk and needs of Medi-Cal beneficiaries, transitioning and transforming the Medi-Cal program to a more consistent and seamless system, and improving quality outcomes. Existing law makes a qualifying inmate of a public institution eligible, commencing no sooner than January 1, 2023, to receive targeted Medi-Cal services, limited to those services approved in the CalAIM Terms and Conditions for 90 days, as specified. This bill would also make a qualifying inmate of a state hospital eligible to receive targeted Medi-Cal services, as described. By expanding the population receiving benefits under the BHSA and to the extent that the bill would create new duties for counties relating to Medi-Cal eligibility determinations, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care, and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires a health care service plan contract or health insurance policy to provide coverage for behavioral health treatment for pervasive developmental disorder or autism. Existing law requires this treatment to be provided under a prescribed treatment plan that is reviewed no less than every 6 months by the qualified autism service provider. This bill would prohibit a health care service plan or health insurer from imposing restrictions on the utilization of authorized treatment hours within the treatment plan's 6-month authorization period. The bill would require authorized hours to remain available for use throughout the authorization period if the use of the hours is consistent with the treatment plan and clinical guidelines, and is documented in the treatment plan and progress reports. Because a willful violation of these provisions by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
This measure would recognize and affirm the important role of artists, arts organizations, creative arts therapists, and arts for health initiatives in supporting behavioral health, promoting recovery, strengthening community resilience, and contributing to public safety. The measure would encourage and recognize exploration, support, and integration of arts and behavioral health within California's health care, behavioral health, and community-based systems.
Existing law establishes the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is in part governed by, and funded pursuant to, federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law requires the department to implement an enhanced care management (ECM) benefit designed to address the clinical and nonclinical needs on a whole-person-care basis for certain target populations of Medi-Cal beneficiaries enrolled in Medi-Cal managed care plans. Under existing law, target populations include, among others, high utilizers with frequent hospital admissions, short-term skilled nursing facility stays, or emergency room visits, and individuals experiencing homelessness. Existing law authorizes a county, or an agency representing a county, to develop a peer support specialist certification program, subject to departmental approval. Under existing law, these specialists are individuals, at least 18 years of age, who self-identify as having lived experience with the process of recovery from mental illness, substance use disorder, or both, as specified. Existing law requires the department to seek any federal waivers that it deems necessary to establish a demonstration or pilot project for the provision of peer support services in counties that agree to participate. This bill would require the department to require, as a condition of providing ECM, that any ECM provider, whose caseload of members meets certain criteria, maintain an interdisciplinary care team that includes at least one peer support specialist or trainee, as defined, who is integrated into ECM service delivery and available to support ECM members. The bill would set forth the functions of a peer support specialist or trainee for ECM purposes. The bill would require the department to allow an ECM provider to satisfy the requirement through any combination of staffing models, as specified. The bill would require the department to ensure that Medi-Cal managed care plan contracts, policies, and guidance reflect the requirement and to establish monitoring and compliance mechanisms to ensure that ECM providers implement the requirement. The bill would require the department to recognize virtual, telephonic, and technology-enabled peer support service delivery as meeting the integration requirement. Under the bill, an ECM provider subject to these provisions would have until January 1, 2028, to achieve full compliance, as specified. The bill would prohibit the department, a county, a Medi-Cal managed care plan, or a Medi-Cal provider, as applicable, from disqualifying a peer support specialist solely or primarily on the basis of a criminal background check, fingerprint-based background check, or similar screening that is a condition of employment, contracting, certification, credentialing, enrollment, or participation in providing peer support services. Under the bill, this restriction would be implemented to the extent not in conflict with federal law, and the restriction would not prohibit background checks under specified circumstances. The bill would also authorize consideration of an individual's criminal record as part of their overall fitness for the position of peer support specialist if the criminal record has a nexus to that position or its duties. The bill would condition implementation of these provisions on receipt of any necessary federal approvals and the availability of federal financial participation.
(1) Existing law, the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act, authorizes the involuntary commitment and treatment of a person, when the person, as a result of a mental health disorder, is a danger to themselves or others, or is gravely disabled. For the purposes of these provisions, existing law defines "gravely disabled" as a condition in which a person, as a result of a mental health disorder, a severe substance use disorder, or a co-occurring mental health disorder and a severe substance use disorder, is unable to provide for their basic personal needs for food, clothing, shelter, personal safety, or necessary medical care. Existing law also authorizes a conservator of a person, estate, or person and the estate to be appointed for a person who is gravely disabled or impaired by chronic alcoholism, subject to specified procedures. Existing law provides the person for whom conservatorship is sought to have the right to demand a court or jury trial on the issue of whether the person is gravely disabled. Existing law prohibits a person from being tried or adjudged to punishment while that person is mentally incompetent, and establishes a process by which a defendant's mental competency is evaluated. This bill would prohibit a court, for purposes of LPS conservatorship, from determining a person's ability to provide for their basic personal needs based solely on the fact that the person has temporary access to those basic personal needs while incarcerated. The bill would also authorize a district attorney to be present and represent public safety interests at any hearing to determine whether an individual is gravely disabled for purposes of the LPS Act. Existing law requires the court to determine the most appropriate placement for a conservatee who is gravely disabled, as defined. Existing law requires the officer providing conservatorship investigation to investigate all available alternatives to conservatorship, as applicable, and to render to the court a comprehensive, written report of the investigation prior to the hearing, as specified. This bill would authorize the district attorney to review all filed documents regarding the investigation, initiation, termination, or modification of, and to be present and represent public safety interests at all hearings that consider, a conservatorship of a person who is gravely disabled, as defined by being found mentally incompetent and meeting the above-described conditions, to provide input to the court about appropriate placement or interim placement by the public conservator. The bill would require a copy of the conservatorship investigation report to be transmitted to the district attorney if the investigation was initiated as part of a determination of mental competence for trial. The bill would authorize the district attorney, if the individual has been appointed a conservator under specified provisions, to challenge the recommendation of the public conservator after the conservatorship investigation for an abuse of discretion in a contested hearing before a judge. The bill would prohibit the district attorney from using the information contained in these reports in subsequent criminal proceedings, except as specified. To the extent the bill imposes a higher level of service on county agencies that prepare and transmit conservatorship investigation reports and on a district attorney to receive those reports, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would authorize a county with a population size of 750,000 or greater to consider prioritizing the placement of specified conservatees in a state hospital run by the State Department of State Hospitals if at least 40 of those conservatees are waiting for placement in a state hospital. The bill would also authorize the placement to be on an interim basis at a county detention facility pending acceptance into a facility that achieves the purposes of treatment of the conservatee and protection of the public. The bill would require the conservatee to receive treatment services in accordance with the conservatorship plan within the detention facility pending permanent placement and would require the court to review the conservator's placement efforts every 60 calendar days. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
This bill designates the week of May 11 to May 15, 2026, as Student Mental Health Awareness Week throughout California. The measure requires state agencies and institutions to acknowledge this specific timeframe to highlight the importance of student mental well-being. By officially recognizing these dates, the legislation aims to encourage public focus on mental health resources for students during that period. It does not allocate funding or mandate specific programs, but rather serves to raise awareness through formal designation.
