March 14, 2025
The Honorable Marc Berman
Chair, Assembly Committee on Business and Professions
1020 N Street, Room 379
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: MHAC Support for AB 529 (Ahrens)
Dear Chair,
Mental Health America of California is writing in support of AB 529 (Ahrens), legislation that would allow the California State Board of Pharmacy to waive provisions of the Pharmacy Law for up to 120 days instead of 90 days after the end of a declared federal, state, or local state of emergency. This would allow mobile pharmacies or clinics to continue severing impacted areas and ensure continuity of services.
MHAC is a peer-run organization leading the state in behavioral health public policy and advocacy since 1957. The mission of MHAC is to assist and encourage communities, families and individuals to experience hope, wellness and recovery from mental health and substance use disorder issues through voluntary services that are delivered in their local community with compassion and respect for everyone’s dignity and autonomy.
A state of emergency can arise in various forms, including epidemics, power outages, extreme weather, and natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and wildfires. During such emergencies the availability of resources and public services become scarce, such as access to healthcare services and medication. During times of great stress, Individuals may develop, or experience heightened, mental health challenges increasing the need for these vital services.
While the Board of Pharmacy may currently waive provisions of the pharmacy law for up to 90 days after the end of a state of emergency to allow mobile clinics and pharmacies to operate, it can take more than 90 days to rebuild a community and for any sense of normalcy to return. This bill would allow for an additional 30 days for a total of 120 days expanding access to care and medications as communities transition from crisis intervention to rehabilitation.
For these reason MHAC supports AB 529 (Ahrens) and asks for your “Aye” vote. If you have any questions, or if MHAC can provide any assistance on this bill or any behavioral health legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me at hstrunk@mhac.org or our Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari, at kvicari@mhaofca.org.
In Community,
Heidi L. Strunk
President & CEO