SB 691 (WAHAB) Prohibition on Body-Worn Cameras – Support

April 22nd, 2025

The Honorable Jesse Arreguín
Senate Public Safety Committee
1020 N Street, Room 545
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: Support for Senate Bill 691 (Wahab)

Dear Chair Arreguín,   

Mental Health America of California (MHAC) is pleased to support Senate Bill 691 (Wahab), legislation that would require guidance to law enforcement personnel who wear body-worn cameras to limit the recording of medical or psychological evaluations, procedures, or treatment that may cause embarrassment or humiliation to the patient. The bill would also require a procedure for emergency service personnel to request the redaction of evidentiary recordings of a patient undergoing medical or psychological evaluation, procedure, or treatment.

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. The types of services and supports individuals receive during a mental health crisis require trust, rapport with providers, and an assurance of confidentiality.

People experiencing a mental health crisis are often in an immensely vulnerable, isolating, and sometimes life-threatening situation. In the event an individual must be forced into treatment, their right to privacy must be prioritized and upheld. Furthermore, recordings and sharable videos of individuals without their consent during moments of crisis may be used to further inflame and stigmatize individuals during assessments or conservatorship investigations. These potentially singular moments of crisis should not be used to define the entirety of an individual’s journey towards wellness.

MHAC is committed to reducing stigma and empowering individuals to seek and accept support and services for mental health challenges. A moment of crisis should not define them or prohibit their ability to establish a path towards recovery that works for them. It is for these reasons MHAC supports SB 691 (Wahab) 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 

SB 497 (WEINER) Protecting Gender Affirming Care – Support

June 10th, 2025

The Honorable Ash Kalra
Assembly Judiciary Committee
1020 N Street, Room 104
Sacramento, CA 95814

Re: Support for Senate Bill 497 (Weiner)

Dear Chair Kalra, 

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, Visibility, and Empowerment (LIVE) is pleased to support SB 497 (Weiner), legislation that protects an individual’s rights to gender-affirming care by:

1) prohibiting the disclosure of information related to an individual’s gender-affirming care to out-of-state entities, and

2) limiting the sharing of data from the Controlled Substances Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES), as it may be used to identify individuals receiving gender-affirming care.

LIVE is a program of changemakers that celebrates LGBTQ+ diversity and creates a more inclusive world where LGBTQ+ community members can live authentically. LIVE creates positive change by uplifting and empowering individuals to bolster their voices in policy, stigma reduction, and unifying community. LIVE is committed to advocating for the health, wellness, and rights of the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring that all individuals can thrive without facing discrimination or barriers to their livelihood.   

Anti-transgender laws continue to rise across the nation, prohibiting the utilization of essential services, facilities, and healthcare aligned with people’s gender identity. These laws are aimed at erasing the transgender community, denying their entire existence. California is a sanctuary state for the LGBTQ+ community, protecting them from discriminatory policies and ensuring access to care. This bill further strengthens California as a sanctuary for the LGBTQ+ community by protecting people who come from out of state to seek gender-affirming care. By ceasing coordination with out of state entities and prohibiting data sharing related to gender affirming care, this bill ensures individuals can seek care without fear of civil or criminal prosecution.

It is for these reasons that LIVE supports SB 497 (Weiner) and asks for your “Aye” vote. If you have any questions, or if LIVE can provide assistance on this bill or any other legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me at agaribaymena@mhac.org or our Public Policy Coordinator, Danny Thirakul, at dthirakul@mhac.org.

In Community,  

Anthony Garibay-Mena 
LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, Visibility, and Empowerment 
Program Manager 

SB 367 (ALLEN) Expand the Lanterman Petris Short (LPS) Act – Oppose

April 4th, 2025

The Honorable Caroline Menjivar
Senate Health Committee
1021 O Street, Room 3310
Sacramento , CA 95814

RE: OPPOSE Senate Bill 367 (Allen)

Dear Chair Menjivar,   

Mental Health America of California (MHAC) respectfully opposes Senate Bill 367 (Allen), which would expand Lanterman Petris Short (LPS) Act involuntary commitment and conservatorship statutes by: 1) Requiring information about the historical course of a person’s medical, psychological, educational, social, financial, and legal conditions to be included in the assessment for an involuntary hold; 2) Authorizing conservatorships for people who have accepted voluntary care; and 3) Expanding the list of individuals or entities that can recommend conservatorship. These expansions of current law will risk infringing on peoples’ civil rights by inappropriately increasing conservatorships.  

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. In accordance with our mission, MHAC supports increasing the availability of voluntary, accessible, culturally responsive, community-based services.

MHAC is opposed to SB 367 for the following reasons:

Requiring information about the historical course of a person’s medical, psychological, educational, social, financial, and legal conditions to be included in the assessment for an involuntary hold is an egregious and inappropriate expansion of involuntary commitment statute. Current law requires information on the historical course of a person’s mental disorder be considered only if it is determined that the information has a “reasonable bearing” on whether the individual meets criteria for involuntary treatment. Furthermore, current statute specifies limited sources of the historical information.[1] In contrast, SB 367 requires information on the historical course of a broad range of factors that are not relevant to an immediate mental health crisis, including educational, social, financial, and legal. We struggle to understand how the historical course of an individual’s education, for example, bears on their potential status as currently gravely disabled. Requiring this information in assessments risks wrongful involuntary commitments based on bias and prejudice rather than immediate mental health needs, and threatens the privacy of the individual. Furthermore, by not limiting or specifying the sources of this information, the bill would create excessive burdens on evaluation staff who are now required to collect this historical information.

Allowing conservatorships for individuals who have “demonstrated an inability to follow through with stated plans of self-care” is untenably broad and will likely result in wrongful conservatorships. Self-care is a term that can encompass a wide range of activities, including simple things like getting outside, getting enough sleep, meditating, etc.. Moreover, “stated plans” is a vague term that implies an unwritten expression of self-care goals.

Conservatorships remove individuals’ rights, autonomy and self-determination and should only be used when absolutely necessary and only after significant evaluation of the individual’s mental health. SB 326 expands authority to recommend conservatorships to a judicial officer, a treating physician or an emergency physician. These individuals are not likely to have sufficient knowledge of an individual’s mental health history to make an accurate conservatorship recommendation, which runs the risk of inappropriately increasing unnecessary conservatorships.

It is for these reasons MHAC is opposed to SB 326 (Allen). 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 


[1] California Welfare & Institutions Code Section 5150.05

SB 531 (RUBIO) Student Mental Health Education – Support

March 3, 2025


The Honorable Senator Sasha Renée Pérez
Chair, Senate Education Committee
1021 O Street, Room 6740
Sacramento, CA 95814

Subject: Support Letter for SB 531 (Rubio) Student Mental Health Education

Dear Senator Pérez,

Our organizations are proud to support Senate Bill 531 by Senator Susan Rubio.

SB 531 will help empower young Californians and destigmatize mental health challenges by requiring all California students in grades 1-12 be provided with an age-appropriate mental health education.

From the aftereffects of the COVID 19 pandemic, the pervasiveness of social media, and the rise in school threats, to the current fears and traumas California students are experiencing because of recent wildfires and changes in immigration policy, today’s students are confronted by an unprecedented scope of mental health challenges. Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14. Worldwide, mental health challenges are among the leading causes of illness and disability among young people, and in California, about one-third of adolescents have experienced psychological distress.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, anxiety problems, behavior disorders, and depressions are the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children – and among children ages 3-17 with a current mental health condition, only 53% received treatment or counseling from a mental health professional in the past year. There are gaps in treatment to support youth: 20% of adolescents age 12-17 report having unmet mental health care needs, and 40% of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year. 20% of high school students reported seriously considering attempting suicide in the past year.

Health literacy, including mental health literacy, can serve as both a risk and protective factor for health and wellbeing. Mental health education is critical to building knowledge and skills to increase awareness, tackle stigma, and encourage help-seeking behavior. Young people spend the majority of their time in schools, and education systems are well-positioned to play an integral role in fostering positive youth development. Schools can help cultivate non-stigmatizing, safe, and supportive environments where youth are informed and able to seek needed mental health care.

SB 531 will ensure that students receive age-appropriate mental health education in elementary, middle, and high schools by amending existing law to include age-appropriate mental health education within the existing requirement that health instruction be taught in grades 1-6, and by requiring that mental health education be taught in grades 7-12.

For these reasons, we are proud to support SB 531.

Sincerely,

Kerry Ahearn
Chief Executive Officer
Aldea

Sarah Bridge
Vice President, Advocacy & Strategy
Association of California Healthcare District

Tom Bakaly
Chief Executive Officer
Beach Cities Health District

Mary Jo Ramirez
Executive Director
California Family Life Center

Nazeehah Khan
Policy Director
Californians for Justice

Sergio J. Morales
Executive Director
California School-Based Health Alliance (CSHA)

Danny Thirakul
Public Policy Coordinator
California Youth Empowerment Network
(CAYEN)


Terry Kim
Director of Government Relations & Advocacy
Children’s Institute

Jeff Farber
Executive Director
Helpline Youth Counseling

Stacey Roth
Chief Executive Officer
Hillsides

Allison Becwar
President & Chief Executive Officer, LCSW
Lincoln Families

Steve Gunther
President & Chief Executive Officer
Maryvale

Alex Briscoe
Principal, Strategy and Systems Change
Public Works Alliance

Lorna Little
President & Chief Executive Officer
St. Anne’s Family Services

Cc: Honorable Members, Senate Education Committee
The Honorable Senator Susan Rubio

SB 418 (MENJIVAR) Prohibit Health Discrimination – Support

June 24th, 2025

The Honorable Mia Bonta
Assembly Health Committee
1020 N Street, Room 390
Sacramento, CA 95814 

RE: Support for Senate Bill 418 (Menjivar) 

Dear Chair, 

Mental Health America of California (MHAC) is pleased to support Senate Bill 418 (Menjivar), a bill that would prohibit discrimination or a denial of benefits from a health plan or insurer based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex with specific protections for the LGBTQ+ community.  

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. 

As healthcare institutions face increasing scrutiny from the federal administration for providing gender-affirming care, denials of such care are expected to rise unless specific protections are established. These denials include limiting access to essential services and adopting policies that restrict or exclude the LGBTQ+ community from receiving gender-affirming care. 

This bill strengthens protections for the LGBTQ+ population by explicitly defining discrimination based on sex to include sex characteristics, pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex stereotypes. Ensuring access to gender-affirming care is critical for the well-being of transgender individuals, as it provides access to necessary medical, mental health, and substance use services and supports. According to The Trevor Project, there has been a 72% increase in suicide attempts among transgender youth due to the rise in anti-transgender laws.[1] These laws attempt to erase the existence of the transgender community by denying access to direct services and critical care.

Everyone deserves access to essential services and support. It is for these reasons MHAC supports Senate Bill 418 (Menjivar) 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 kvicari@mhaofca.org or our Public Policy Coordinator, Danny Thirakul, at dthirakul@mhac.org.

In Community, 

Karen Vicari
Director of Public Policy
Mental Health America of California


[1] News, T. (2025a, February 11). Anti-transgender laws cause up to 72% increase in suicide attempts among transgender and nonbinary youth, study shows. The Trevor Project.

SB 823 (STERN) Adding Bipolar 1 to CARE Court Criteria – Oppose

March 18th, 2025

The Honorable Caroline Menjivar
Senate Health Committee
1021 O Street, Room 3310
Sacramento, CA 95814

Re: MHAC Opposition to Senate Bill 823 (Stern)

Dear Chair,

Mental Health America of California is writing to oppose SB 823 (Stern), legislation that would add Bipolar I Disorder to the criteria for a person to be petitioned into CARE Court and forced into involuntary treatment. CARE Court represents an ineffective approach to mental healthcare in California. It fails to address the systemic barriers individuals face and, in some cases, comes at the cost of their civil liberties.

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.

The primary barriers to accessing mental health services include a shortage of providers, stigma, and lack of voluntary services and supports. Investing in the behavioral health workforce, reducing stigma through community engagement, and voluntary community-based services has proven to prevent mental health crisis, reduce hospitalizations, institutionalization, and incarceration.[1] In contrast, CARE Court fails to address the provider shortage, inadvertently increases stigma due to its court-based setting, and provides no additional funding to increase mental health services and supports beyond what’s currently available.

The ineffectiveness of CARE Court is demonstrated in the enrollment numbers. When San Francisco rolled out CARE Court in 2023, city officials projected approximately 2,000 eligible individuals, but only 11 referrals were made.[2] The Department of Health Care Services also released its Early Implementation Report in November of 2024 which recorded a total of 100 Care Court participants, yet state officials estimated 7,000 to 12,000 people would be eligible.[3][4] One of the primary reasons for the low enrollment is due to the many respondents who are receiving care voluntarily or receiving supports and services in a different way other than CARE Court. This further supports the idea that when voluntary supports and services are available, people will accept them.

The state’s failure to meet expectations shows an inherent flaw in the system that won’t be solved by expanding the criteria of who can be forced into treatment via a court order. For these reasons MHAC opposes SB 823 (Stern) and asks for your “No” 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 or our Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari, at kvicari@mhaofca.org.  

In Community, 

Heidi L. Strunk 
President & CEO


[1] Yehya, N. A. (2024, November 27). Report finds State’s mental health programs need consistent funding, community engagement. UC Davis Health News.

[2] SF Chronicle “S.F. Helped Only a Handful of People So Far through California’s Ambitious New Health Program” (2024)

[3] Depart of Health Care Services . (2024, November). CARE Act Early Implementation Report. Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment Act.

[4] Mai-Duc, C. (2024, November 27). California falling short of enrollment goal as Mental Health Courts Roll Out Statewide. California Healthline.

SB 331 (MENJIVAR) Substance Abuse – Opposed Unless Amended

April 3rd, 2025

The Honorable Caroline Menjivar
Senate Health Committee
1021 O Street, Room 3310
Sacramento , CA 95814

RE: OPPOSE UNLESS AMENDED Senate Bill 331 (Menjivar)

Dear Chair Menjivar,   

Mental Health America of California (MHAC) respectfully opposes unless amended Senate Bill 331 (Menjivar), which would define a “mental health disorder” as a condition outlined in the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

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. In accordance with our mission, MHAC supports increasing the availability of voluntary, accessible, culturally responsive, community-based services.

The definition of “mental health disorder” as outlined in the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is not only overly broad, but also misaligned with the intent of the statute regarding involuntary commitment.

The current version of the DSM lists 265 conditions, a large number of which are inappropriate grounds for involuntary commitment. Some of these include sexual dysfunction, sleep wake disorders, communication disorders, stuttering, caffeine use disorder, and tobacco use disorder. [1]

The Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act was intended to “end the inappropriate, indefinite, and involuntary commitment of persons with mental health disorders” by authorizing involuntary treatment in very limited circumstances. By defining “mental health disorder” as broadly as the DSM criteria, California risks expansion of involuntary commitment far beyond the intent of the LPS Act. Furthermore, the LPS Act requires the provision of evaluation and treatment services for individuals placed on involuntary holds. Yet, many of the conditions listed in the DSM are not appropriate for treatment within locked facilities.

While we are opposed to the current bill language defining a “mental health disorder” as outlined in the current edition of the DSM, we are not necessarily opposed to defining “mental health disorder” in statute. Ideally, we would like this provision removed from the bill but if that is not possible, we would welcome the opportunity to work with the author and sponsors to develop a more suitable definition.

It is for these reasons MHAC must oppose SB 331 (Menjivar). 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 


[1] American Psychiatric Association. (2013). DSM-5 Table of Contents.

SB 0492 (MENJIVAR) Youth Housing Bond – Support

March 14th, 2025

The Honorable Aisha Wahab
Senate Housing Committee
1021 O Street, Room 3330
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: Support for Senate Bill 492 (Menjivar)

Dear Chair,

The California Youth Empowerment Network (CAYEN) is pleased to support Senate Bill 492 (Menjivar) the Youth Housing Bond Act of 2025, legislation that would issue bonds for the purpose of developing local youth centers and youth housing.

CAYEN is a youth-led statewide network comprised of youth action teams and a youth advisory board which engages, empowers and represents Transitional Age Youth (TAY), ages 15-26, in mental and behavioral health advocacy on issues that directly affect TAY. As many TAY continue to experience homelessness and barriers to mental and substance use services and supports, CAYEN stands committed to advocating for these vital community-based resources.

Stable housing is one of many social determinants of health that have lifelong impacts on one’s health and wellness. With over 9,000 unaccompanied youth in California currently experiencing homelessness, there is an immediate need to provide targeted housing interventions for TAY.[1]  Furthermore, county prevention funds under the Behavioral Health Services Act (2024) have been eliminated. Counties no longer have designated prevention funding to invest in, develop and sustain youth centers, a behavioral health prevention strategy that meets youth where they are to offer voluntary supports and services to address their mental and substance use challenges.

The Youth Housing Bond Act of 2025 helps address the housing insecurity TAY face and increases access to vital community-based services and support.  It is for those reasons that CAYEN supports SB 492 (Menjivar) and asks for your “Aye” vote. If you have any questions, or if CAYEN can provide assistance on this bill or any other legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me at dthirakul@mhac.org. 

Sincerely,

Danny Thirakul
California Youth Empowerment Network
Public Policy Coordinator


[1] HUD CoC Homeless Populations and Subpopulations Reports (2024)

SB 0418 (MENJIVAR) Prohibit Health Discrimination – Support

June 24th, 2025

The Honorable Mia Bonta
Assembly Health Committee
1020 N Street, Room 390
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: Support for Senate Bill 418 (Menjivar)

Dear Chair,

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, Visibility, and Empowerment (LIVE) is pleased to support Senate Bill 418 (Menjivar), a bill that would prohibit discrimination or a denial of benefits from a health plan or insurer based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex with specific protections for the LGBTQ+ community.

LIVE is a program of changemakers, that celebrates LGBTQ+ diversity and creates a more inclusive world where LGBTQ+ community members can live authentically. LIVE creates positive change by uplifting and empowering individuals to bolster their voices in policy, stigma reduction and unifying community. LIVE is committed to advocating for the health, well-being, and rights of the LGBTQ+ community, ensuring that all individuals can thrive without facing discrimination or barriers to essential services.

As healthcare institutions face increasing scrutiny from the federal administration for providing gender-affirming care, denials of such care are expected to rise unless specific protections are established. These denials include limiting access to essential services and adopting policies that restrict or exclude the LGBTQ+ community from receiving gender-affirming care.

This bill strengthens protections for the LGBTQ+ population by explicitly defining discrimination based on sex to include sex characteristics, pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex stereotypes. It also safeguards individuals from the various ways healthcare institutions may attempt to deny care, ensuring that all individuals receive the medical services they need without discrimination.

It is for those reasons that LIVE supports SB 418 (Menjivar). If you have any questions, or if LIVE can provide assistance on this bill or any other legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me at agaribaymena@mhac.org or our Public Policy Coordinator, Danny Thirakul, at dthirakul@mhac.org.  

In Community,

Anthony Garibay-Mena
LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, Visibility, and Empowerment
Program Manager

SB 402 (WAHAB) Eligibility to Write Holds – Oppose

June 14, 2024

The Honorable Aisha Wahab
California State Senate
1021 O Street, Suite 7330
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: Senate Bill 402 (Wahab) – OPPOSE

Dear Senator Wahab:

Mental Health America of California (MHAC) respectfully opposes Senate Bill 402, legislation which expands eligibility of people who can place individuals on a 5150 hold to private practicing licensed mental health professionals.

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. Access to voluntary mental and behavioral health support and services are key to preventing people from experiencing a crisis.

If a person is experiencing a crisis and needs to be placed on a 5150 hold, the decision should be made by professionals held to the highest standards. However, Senate Bill 402 lowers these standards by allowing private practicing licensed professionals to be eligible for county designation to write holds. These professionals do not need to be county employees or contractors, which creates a gap in accountability. Not all mental health professionals receive the same training or have experience with crisis response, and this bill does not ensure that the most qualified professionals are making these critical decisions.

Previously adopted legislation, Senate Bill 43 (Eggman), expanded the criteria for placing individuals on a 5150 hold to include those with a “severe substance use disorder” or a “co-occurring mental health disorder and a severe substance use disorder.” Under the current bill language, this expansion would allow a marriage and family therapist to write a hold for someone with a substance use disorder, which may not be appropriate given their training and experience.

This bill poses a variety of challenges regarding the accountability of hold writers and the applicability of the different types of licensed mental health professional to be writing holds during different types of mental and behavioral health crises. Furthermore, denying an individual of their civil rights is not conducive to the recovery of an individual and the decision should not be made by unqualified persons.  For these reasons, we oppose Senate Bill 402. If you or your staff have any questions, or if Mental Health America of California can be of any assistance on this or any other behavioral health bill, please do not hesitate to contact me at hstrunk@mhac.org, or our Interim Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari at kvicari@mhacofca.org.

In Community,

Heidi Strunk
President & CEO
Mental Health America of California