Report 2019-119 Recommendation Responses
Report 2019-119: Lanterman-Petris-Short Act: California Has Not Ensured That Individuals With Serious Mental Illnesses Receive Adequate Ongoing Care (Release Date: July 2020)
Recommendation for Legislative Action
To increase the accountability for and effectiveness of the counties' use of mental health funds, the Legislature should amend state law to do the following:
Assign primary responsibility to the Oversight Commission for comprehensive tracking of spending on mental health programs and services from major fund sources and of program-and service-level and statewide outcome data. The Legislature should require the Oversight Commission to consult with state and local mental health authorities to carry out this responsibility. The Legislature should also require the Oversight Commission to explore available data and information when developing this reporting framework, and it should grant the Oversight Commission authority to obtain relevant data and information from other state entities.
Require the Oversight Commission to develop categories of mental health programs and services, similar to those we present in Figure 11, that are tailored to inform assessments of spending patterns. The Legislature should subsequently require counties to report to the Oversight Commission their expenses in each of these categories as well as their unspent funding from all major funding sources.
Require counties to report to the Oversight Commission, in a format prescribed by the commission, program-and service-level outcomes that enable stakeholders to determine whether counties' use of funds benefits individuals living with mental illnesses.
Direct the Oversight Commission to develop statewide measurements of mental health—such as those we highlight in Figure 11—and report publicly about those measurements annually so that stakeholders and policymakers can assess the progress the State is making in addressing mental health needs.
Require the Oversight Commission to work with counties and other state and local agencies as necessary to use the information it collects to improve mental health in California.
Description of Legislative Action
SB 749 (Glazer, 2021) would require, to the extent the Legislature makes an appropriation for these provisions, the Oversight Commission, in consultation with state and local mental health authorities, to create a comprehensive tracking program for county spending on mental and behavioral health programs and services including funding sources; funding utilization; and outcome data at the program, service, and statewide levels. The bill would require each county to report specified data to the Oversight Commission. The bill would also require the Oversight Commission to report the results of the county reporting to the Governor's office and the Legislature and to publish that information on its website in a location accessible to the public. As of September 2, 2022, this bill was pending in the Assembly.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: September 2022
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Legislation Introduced
As of September 2, 2022, this bill was pending in the Assembly.
Description of Legislative Action
SB 749 (Glazer, 2021) would require, to the extent the Legislature makes an appropriation for these provisions, the Oversight Commission, in consultation with state and local mental health authorities, to create a comprehensive tracking program for county spending on mental and behavioral health programs and services including funding sources, funding utilization, and outcome data at the program, service, and statewide levels. The bill would require each county to report specified data for the preceding fiscal year to the Oversight Commission on or before July 31 of each year. The bill would also require the Oversight Commission to report the results of the county reporting to the Governor's office and the Legislature on or before September 1 of each year, and to publish that information on its website in a location accessible to the public.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: July 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Legislation Introduced
Description of Legislative Action
As of January 28, 2021, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: January 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: No Action Taken
Description of Legislative Action
As of September 28, 2020, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.
- Legislative Action Current As-of: October 2020