§ 5963.06. — 5963.06. (Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 790, Sec. 109.)

(a)
The California State Auditor shall, no later than December 31, 2029, issue to the Governor, the Legislature, the Senate and Assembly Committees on Health, the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development, and the Senate Committee on Housing, a comprehensive report on the progress and effectiveness of the implementation of the Behavioral Health Services Act.
(b)
The California State Auditor shall conduct the audit required pursuant to subdivision (a) every three years
thereafter with the final audit due on or before December 31, 2035. The final report shall include final findings, conclusions, and recommendations on the topics addressed in the previous reports.
(1)
The California State Auditor shall make their reports available to the public.
(2)
The California State Auditor shall make every effort to provide affected entities with an opportunity to reply to any facts, findings, issues, or conclusions in their reports with which the department may disagree.
(c)
The audit conducted pursuant to this section shall include an assessment of the following:
(1)
The impact of the policy changes of the Behavioral Health Services
Act on the overall delivery of behavioral health services in California.
(2)
The timeliness and thoroughness of guidance issued and training and technical assistance provided to impacted entities by the state as it transitions from the existing behavioral health system of care to the reforms envisioned pursuant to this act.
(3)
The implementation of the Behavioral Health Services Act by each of the primary entities involved in the transition and implementation, including, but not limited to, the California Health and Human Services Agency, State Department of Health Care Services, Department of Health Care Access and Information, State Department of Public Health, Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, counties, and county behavioral health directors.
(4)
How counties demonstrate progress towards meeting the statewide behavioral health goals and outcome measures developed pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 5963.02.
(5)
The fiscal and programmatic aspects of the Behavioral Health Services Act, including reserve levels, reversion activity, services and system outcomes, workforce training, workforce capacity, number of individuals served, number of individuals receiving services, number of individuals receiving housing interventions, as reported to the department by counties.
(6)
The revised Behavioral Health Services Act allocations pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 5892, gaps in service,
and trends in unmet needs.
(7)
The degree to which the inclusion of substance use disorders, substance use disorder treatment services, and substance use disorder personnel into the Behavioral Health Services Act has impacted the system of behavioral health care and the degree to which inclusion in the Behavioral Health Services Act has been initially successful.
(8)
The effectiveness and outcomes achieved through the population-based prevention programs developed and implemented by the State Department of Public Health.
(9)
The effectiveness and compliance by the counties with the revised reporting requirements under the act that added this section.
(10)
The department’s oversight of the revised Integrated Plan for Behavioral Health Services and Outcomes and County Behavioral Health Outcomes, Accountability, and Transparency Report, including the use of corrective action plans or sanctions, or both.
(11)
The coordination and collaboration occurring throughout the transition period between, but not limited to, the California Health and Human Services Agency, State Department of Health Care Services, Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, counties, and county behavioral health directors, and an identification of areas of improvement if warranted.
(12)
Recommendations on any changes or improvements indicated by the audit pursuant to this section.
(d)
(1)
The California Health and Human Services Agency, State Department of Health Care Services, counties, and Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission staff shall cooperate with all requests of the California State Auditor to the extent such information is available and the State Department of Health Care Services, counties, and Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission shall provide data, information, and case files as requested by the California State Auditor to perform all of their duties, to the extent that information is available.
(2)
The California State Auditor may also provide in its reports, additional information to either the department or the Legislature at their discretion or at the request of
either the department or the Legislature.
(e)
The California State Auditor shall, in making its recommendations, indicate the predicted quickest method of implementing those recommendations, including, but not limited to, regulatory or statutory changes.
(f)
This section shall become operative on January 1, 2025, if amendments to the Mental Health Services Act are approved by the voters at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election.
(g)
This section shall become inoperative on June 30, 2036, and, as of January 1, 2037, is repealed.

Legislative History

Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 790, Sec. 109. (SB 326) Effective April 17, 2024. Approved in Proposition 1 at the March 5, 2024, election. Operative January 1, 2025, by its own provisions. Inoperative June 30, 2036, by its own provisions. Repealed as of January 1, 2037, by its own provisions.