Prior Priority Legislation

MHAC Position: Support

Author: Schiavo

Date: 06/18/2025

Under the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, health care service plans are licensed and regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care, with violations considered crimes. Health insurers are regulated by the Department of Insurance. Current laws prevent health plans or insurers from revoking treatment authorizations after services have been provided in good faith. This bill requires that a prior authorization for health care services remain valid for at least one year from the approval date or for the duration of the prescribed treatment if shorter. Violations by health care service plans are criminal offenses, creating a state-mandated local program. According to the California Constitution, the state must reimburse local agencies and schools for certain mandated costs, but this bill specifies that such reimbursement is not required.

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MHAC Position: Support

Author: Quirk-Silva

Date: 08/26/2022

Status: Vetoed

Integrated school-based behavioral health partnership program: This bill would establish the Integrated School-Based Behavioral Health Partnership Program, to provide access to behavioral health services for pupils. The bill would authorize a county behavioral health agency and the governing body of a local educational agency to agree to collaborate on conducting a needs assessment and implement an integrated school-based behavioral health partnership program. The bill would require a county behavioral health agency to provide, through its own staff or through its network of contracted community-based organizations, one or more behavioral health professionals to serve pupils who have serious emotional disturbances or substance use disorders, or who are at risk of developing a serious behavioral health condition. The bill would require the local educational agency to provide school- based locations. For privately insured students, the partnership program is required to contact the private plan before initiating or during an assessment to determine if the student needs an urgent or nonurgent appointment and to facilitate a referral. If the private plan is able to provide an urgent appointment within 48 hours, or a nonurgent appointment within 15 business days, the program will facilitate the referral to the private plan’s network providers If appointments are not available in these timeframes, the behavioral health professional will complete the brief intervention services. If the pupil requires additional behavioral health services, and the plan cannot meet timely access standards for care delivery, the private plan and the county behavioral health agency would negotiate a single case agreement for reimbursement.

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MHAC Position: Oppose

Author: Gonzalez

Date: 06/22/2025

The text discusses changes proposed by the PrEPARE Act of 2025 to the regulation of health care service plans and insurers concerning antiretroviral drugs used for HIV/AIDS prevention. Under the existing law, these drugs cannot generally be subjected to prior authorization or step therapy, unless at least one therapeutically equivalent version is available without those requirements. The new bill aims to refine this by allowing prior authorization or step therapy only if a therapeutically equivalent version is offered without them, and clarifies that drugs of differing durations are not considered equivalent. Furthermore, the bill mandates coverage for non-self-administered antiretroviral drugs as both a medical and outpatient prescription benefit, and eliminates cost-sharing for these HIV prevention drugs covered under non-grandfathered health plans or policies when FDA-approved. Medi-Cal managed care plans are exempt from these rules. Additionally, any willful violation of these provisions by health care plans is considered a crime, introducing state-mandated local programs, though reimbursement for local agencies is not required.

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MHAC Position: Oppose

Author: Castillo

Date: 06/22/2025

This bill outlines several legal frameworks and a proposed bill, Yaeli's Law, which addresses issues related to child welfare, custody, and guardianship, particularly concerning gender identity. Under existing law, specific professionals, known as "mandated reporters," must report suspected child abuse or neglect. Failure to report is a misdemeanor. The law defines "neglect" and "severe neglect" concerning a child's care. Yaeli's Law seeks to clarify that actions such as using a child's legal name, referring to them by their birth sex pronouns, or not providing gender-affirming healthcare, are not considered child abuse, neglect, or a cause of severe emotional harm. It also introduces a private right of action for parents or guardians investigated under such claims, allowing them to seek damages and attorney’s fees. In custody cases, the bill specifies that these actions should not affect the court's assessment of a child's health, safety, and welfare. Concerning guardianship, the bill states that they do not constitute failure to provide necessary care or grounds for removing or replacing a guardian. The bill extends protection to prevent a child from being deemed a court-dependent based solely on the defined actions and provides legal recourse for parents or guardians in such situations.

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MHAC Position: Support

Author: Haney

Date: 06/18/2025

The Donahoe Higher Education Act establishes California's public colleges, including community colleges and universities, and mandates these institutions to implement rules on student behavior, informing students of these rules and associated penalties. These provisions apply to the University of California only if the Regents decide by resolution. Federal law also requires institutions receiving federal funds to distribute conduct standards prohibiting illicit drugs or alcohol, imposing sanctions for violations. This includes completing a rehabilitation program as a valid sanction. A proposed bill would require the University of California and California State University to prioritize campus health and safety when creating these rules. By July 1, 2026, this bill would mandate these institutions to adopt rules ensuring that students seeking medical treatment for drug or alcohol use in violation of campus rules avoid disciplinary action if they complete a rehabilitation program. This opportunity would be offered once per academic term.

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MHAC Position: Support

Author: Gonzalez

Date: 06/18/2025

Existing law mandates the State Department of Public Health to manage programs focused on disease prevention and health promotion, including providing screening and care for those exposed to diethylstilbestrol during pregnancy due to its potential to cause fetal abnormalities. The Legislature intends to fund this program in future fiscal years through the usual budgetary process. The bill proposes that, once funds are allocated, the department should create a program by January 1, 2028, to raise awareness about drug-induced movement disorders. This program would be repealed on January 1, 2032, and includes related findings and declarations.

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MHAC Position: Watch

Author: Rodriguez

Date: 09/27/2022

Mental health: Office of Suicide Prevention: Existing law authorizes the State Department of Public Health to establish the Office of Suicide Prevention within the department. Existing law authorizes the office to perform certain functions including, but not limited to, conducting state-level assessment of regional and statewide suicide prevention policies and practices and reporting on progress to reduce rates of suicide. This bill would authorize the office to additionally conduct local-level assessments of regional suicide prevention policies and practices, and would include emergency medical personnel and firefighters as a high- risk group. Existing law requires the office to consult with the MHSOAC to implement suicide prevention efforts. This bill would require the office to consult with the Office of Emergency Services to implement suicide prevention efforts for emergency medical personnel and firefighters throughout the states’ municipal fire service agencies and fire districts, and to solicit proposals for, and to contract for, an evidence-based curriculum to establish behavioral health peer-support programs for emergency medical personnel, local fire service agencies, and fire districts.

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MHAC Position: Support

Author: Lee

Date: 06/22/2025

Existing law mandates the Governor to establish an Interagency Council on Homelessness, which includes specified members and works to coordinate efforts among government entities and organizations to end homelessness. The council is tasked with forming partnerships across various sectors and recommending policies to legislators. The new bill adds that the council must work with LGBTQ+ community representatives to recommend policies and best practices for inclusive services. Additionally, it requires expanding data collection to better understand the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals in state homelessness programs. By July 1, 2027, the council must submit a report to certain legislative committees on these recommendations.

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MHAC Position: Support

Author: Gonzalez

Date: 06/22/2025

From July 1, 2025, schools serving grades 7 to 12, both public and private, are required to include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number on student ID cards. Similarly, colleges and universities must display the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number on their student ID cards. Starting July 1, 2026, public schools and higher education institutions will also need to add the phone number and text line for a designated LGBTQ+ suicide hotline to these ID cards.

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MHAC Position: Watch

Author: Carrillo

Date: 09/19/2022

Status: Passed

Pupil mental health: mental health assistance posters: This bill would require on or before the start of the 2023-24 school year, each schoolsite serving pupils in grades 6 to 12 must create a poster that identifies approaches and shares resources regarding pupil mental health. Each poster would be at least 8.5 by 11 inches and must include identification of common behaviors of those struggling with mental health, a list of schoolsite-specific resources, a list of positive coping strategies to use, and a list of negative coping strategies to avoid. The bill would require the poster to be prominently and conspicuously displayed at each schoolsite. The poster shall also be digitized and distributed online to pupils through social media, internet websites,portals, and learning platforms.

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MHAC Position: Support

Author: Sharp-Collins

Date: 06/22/2025

Existing California laws establish several programs to address violence and support youth through grants and health services. The California Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant Program and the Youth Reinvestment Grant Program provide competitive grants for violence reduction and minor diversion programs, respectively. School districts must prioritize student health, employing certified personnel and informing students and parents about school and community mental health services. A Public School Health Center Support Program aids these health centers. The bill introduces the Community ViolenceInterdiction Grant Program via the California Health and Human Services Agency, funding community initiatives to reduce neighborhood and school violence. It suggests funding programs that focus on youth, such as recreational and health interventions, and establishing school-based health centers. The bill mandates an application process for grants and calculation of savings from state prison closures to finance these initiatives. The Community Violence Interdiction Grant Fund will be created to manage these funds, which will be transferred from the General Fund based on prison closure savings as calculated yearly.

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MHAC Position: Support

Author: Papan

Date: 06/18/2025

The Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 mandates that health care service plans are licensed and regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care, while health insurers are overseen by the Department of Insurance. Both entities must regularly update their provider directories, which list contracting providers. A new bill proposes that all health service and insurance plans include a notice in these directories, advising enrollees to contact the plan for help finding an in-network provider and understanding their out-of-network coverage rights. When contacted, plans must acknowledge requests within one business day and provide a list of available in-network providers: within two business days for urgent requests and five business days for non-urgent ones. Violations of these provisions would be a crime, implicating state and local program mandates. The bill specifies that no state reimbursement is required for these mandates.

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MHAC Position: Watch

Author: Stone

Date: 06/24/2021

Status: Died

Foster youth: children’s crisis continuum pilot program: This bill would require DSS, in collaboration with DHCS and with input from certain stakeholders to establish a 5-year Children’s Crisis Continuum Pilot Program (CCC Pilot Program) for the purpose of developing treatment options needed to support California’s commitment to eliminate the placement of foster youth with complex needs in out-of-state facilities. Requires a participating entity to develop and implement a highly integrated continuum of care for foster youth with high acuity mental health needs, with specified services. The continuum of care must include: 1) a crisis stabilization unit; 2) a crisis residential program; 3) an inpatient psychiatric health facility; 4) intensive services foster care with integrated specialty mental health services; 5) community-based supportive services available 24/7

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MHAC Position: Support

Author: Garcia

Date: 06/18/2025

The existing Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975 governs health care service plans, mandating licensure and oversight by the Department of Managed Health Care. Violations are considered criminal offenses. The Department of Insurance regulates health insurers, overseen by the Insurance Commissioner, ensuring health care enrollees receive appropriate language assistance. The current law also requires assessing enrollees' linguistic needs and providing translation and interpretation. The new bill mandates that health care plans and insurers offer translation and interpretation services to individuals with limited English proficiency at no cost to them. It requires qualified interpreters for necessary services and imposes penalties for non-compliance. Vital documents must have notices about interpretation services, and upon request, written translations must be provided promptly, especially in cases involving health threats. The bill permits sight translations to meet notice requirements when necessary. Further, health care service plans and insurers that market in non-English languages are required to provide specified documents, such as notices about termination of coverage, complaint forms, and cost-related communications, in that language. Moreover, non-discrimination policies, grievance procedures, and language assistance details must be clearly communicated to enrollees, potential customers, and the public. These details should also be available in prominent locations and upon request, disseminated annually, and during enrollment. Additionally, service plans and insurers must report language access policies and procedures along with cultural appropriateness to the relevant regulatory department. The bill constitutes a state-mandated local program and does not require reimbursement for local agencies, as specified.

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MHAC Position: Support

Author: Solache

Date: 06/22/2025

Existing law mandates that school districts incorporate instructional materials that reflect the cultural and racial diversity of society, including contributions from people of all genders, Native Americans, African Americans, Latino Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, European Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals, persons with disabilities, and various other groups. This bill requires the State Department of Education to oversee and ensure compliance with this requirement as part of their annual review of state and federal programs.

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