Things are picking up speed in the Legislature as the end of
session approaches. Several health and human services bills that
CSAC has been actively monitoring are either in the final stages
of legislative approval or headed to the governor’s desk this
week:
AB 59, by Assembly Member Marie Waldron, would
extend the Laura’s Law sunset date by five years, from 2017 to
2022. CSAC and the Urban Counties of California both support this
version of the bill, which was sent to the Governor’s desk on
August 24.
SB 1212, by Senator Ben Hueso, would authorize
the California Public Utilities Commission to spend up to
$1,500,000 to facilitate expansion of 2-1-1 services into
counties that currently do not have 2-1-1 services. CSAC supports
this measure, which is currently on the Senate Floor awaiting a
concurrence vote.
AB 1299, by Assembly Member Sebastian
Ridley-Thomas, passed off of the Senate Floor and
returned to the Assembly for a vote on the amendments made to the
bill in the Senate. CSAC supports the bill as amended, after
nearly two years of working closely with the author and sponsors
to arrive at a policy solution that will ensure timely mental
health services for foster or probation youth with little or no
state costs. CSAC will support AB 1299 if it is sent to the
Governor as expected.
AB 2448, by Assembly Member Autumn Burke, would
reduce barriers to high school graduation for CalWORKs
participants by targeting enrollees who need more than six months
to achieve high school equivalency by stopping their time clocks
for up to 12 months. CSAC supports this bill, which has been sent
to the Governor’s desk.
AB 1628, the budget trailer bill that contains
financing portion of the new No Place Like Home Program, is
headed to the Governor’s desk. The bill, which was approved by
the Senate and Assembly, outlines the path for diverting Mental
Health Services Act funds to finance and repay up to $2 billion
in bonds. The proceeds from those bonds will be available to
counties for building or refurbishing permanent supportive
housing units for those who are chronically homeless and living
with mental illness.
SB 947, by Senator Richard Pan, would work to
modernize the CalWORKs application and ensure a more efficient
process for families in need of CalWORKs systems by allowing
county human services agency or state hospital staff to conduct
the required personal eligibility interview via telephone or
electronically. CSAC supports this bill, which would bring
CalWORKs in line with both CalFresh and Medi-Cal, both of which
provide the option of telephone interviews. SB 947 next heads to
the Governor’s desk.
