The California Behavioral Health Planning Council shall have the powers and authority necessary to carry out the duties imposed upon it by this chapter, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) To advocate for effective, quality mental health and substance use disorder programs.
(b) To review, assess, and make recommendations regarding all components of California’s mental health and substance use disorder systems, and to report as necessary to the Legislature, the State Department of Health Care Services, local boards, and local programs.
(c) To review program performance in delivering mental health and substance use disorder services by annually reviewing performance outcome data as follows:
(1) To review and approve the performance outcome measures.
(2) To review the performance of mental health and substance use disorder programs based on performance outcome data and other reports from the State Department of Health Care Services and other sources.
(3) To report findings and recommendations on the performance of programs annually to the Legislature, the State Department of Health Care Services, and the local boards, and to post those findings and recommendations annually on its Internet Web site.
(4) To identify successful programs for recommendation and for consideration of replication in other areas. As data and technology are available, identify programs experiencing difficulties.
(d) When appropriate, make a finding pursuant to Section 5655 that a county’s performance in delivering mental health services is failing in a substantive manner. The State Department of Health Care Services shall investigate and review the finding, and report the action taken to the Legislature.
(e) To advise the Legislature, the State Department of Health Care Services, and county boards on mental health and substance use disorder issues and the policies and priorities that this state should be pursuing in developing its mental health and substance use disorder health systems.
(f) To periodically review the state’s data systems and paperwork requirements to ensure that they are reasonable and in compliance with state and federal law.
(g) To make recommendations to the State Department of Health Care Services on the award of grants to county programs to reward and stimulate innovation in providing mental health and substance use disorder services.
(h) To conduct public hearings on the state mental health plan, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration block grant, and other topics, as needed.
(i) In conjunction with other statewide and local mental health and substance use disorder organizations, assist in the coordination of training and information to local mental health boards as needed to ensure that they can effectively carry out their duties.
(j) To advise the Director of Health Care Services on the development of the state mental health plan and the system of priorities contained in that plan.
(k) To assess periodically the effect of realignment of mental health services and any other important changes in the state’s mental health and substance use disorder systems, and to report its findings to the Legislature, the State Department of Health Care Services, local programs, and local boards, as appropriate.
(l) To suggest rules, regulations, and standards for the administration of this division.
(m) When requested, to mediate disputes between counties and the state arising under this part.
(n) To employ administrative, technical, and other personnel necessary for the performance of its powers and duties, subject to the approval of the Department of Finance.
(o) To accept any federal fund granted, by act of Congress or by executive order, for purposes within the purview of the California Behavioral Health Planning Council, subject to the approval of the Department of Finance.
(p) To accept any gift, donation, bequest, or grants of funds from private and public agencies for all or any of the purposes within the purview of the California Behavioral Health Planning Council, subject to the approval of the Department of Finance.
(q) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a), (c), (e), (g), and (i), in the event that the State Department of Health Care Services determines that California’s Community Mental Health Services Block Grant funding pursuant to Section 300x et seq. of Title 42 of the United States Code is in jeopardy due to the California Behavioral Health Planning Council’s noncompliance with the requirements specified in Public Law 102-321, the State Department of Health Care Services shall notify and consult with the California Behavioral Health Planning Council, and the California Behavioral Health Planning Council shall make the changes necessary to comply with federal law.
(r) The Legislature finds and declares that the amendments made to subdivisions (a), (b), (c), (e), (g), (i), and (k) by the act that added this subdivision are consistent with Section 5892.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 511, Sec. 15. (AB 1688) Effective January 1, 2018.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018