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Supervisors Thomas and Hidahl recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 036-2024 of the Board of Supervisors opposing Proposition 1 - the Behavioral Health Services Program and Bond Measure, appearing on the March 5, 2024 statewide primary ballot, contingent on County Counsel approval.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On October 12, 2023, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 531 (Irwin) and Senate Bill (SB) 326 (Eggman), a two-bill legislative package seeking to alter the state’s behavioral health system and create more supportive housing and behavioral health treatment resources. Specified sections of the two measures will appear together before the voters on the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election ballot as Proposition 1.
While the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors acknowledges that California’s behavioral health system and approach to homelessness needs to be modernized and transformed, the Board has strong concerns that Proposition 1 will takeaway local control and adversely impact El Dorado County’s ability to provide behavioral health services. While Proposition 1 has lofty goals, the implementation strategies employed are likely to have adverse impacts on California counties.
Specifically, Proposition 1 would amend the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) which accounts for about one-third of funding for county behavioral health services, shifting allocations away from community mental health services into housing interventions that may be incompatible with El Dorado County’s existing conditions and needs. While Proposition 1 may create housing it will likely impact and reduce existing services in our community which depend on MHSA funding.
AB 531
AB 531, the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act of 2024, authorizes $6.38 billion in general obligation bonds to finance the conversion, rehabilitation, and construction of supportive housing, behavioral health housing, and treatment settings. T...
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