AB 1001 (Haney, D-San Francisco)
Oppose Unless Amended
Passed off Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file on May 18. Pending an Assembly floor vote.
AB 1001 would require general acute care hospitals to adopt behavioral health emergency service policies related to minimum staffing requirements, response times, and data management and reporting. This bill would establish the Behavioral Health Emergency Response and Training Fund to support staffing increases in public and non-profit general acute care hospitals.
AB 1316 (Irwin, D-Thousand Oaks)
Sponsor
Two-year bill
AB 1316 would require that Medi-Cal managed care plans pay hospital emergency departments for serving Medi-Cal beneficiaries experiencing a mental health crisis. It would also ensure people who need access to a mental health inpatient bed are transferred promptly to the care they need.
AB 1451 (Jackson, D-Perris)
Support
Passed off Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file on May 18. Pending an Assembly floor vote.
AB 1451 would require health plans and insurers to cover and pay for treatment for urgent and emergency mental health and substance use disorders. The bill would prohibit plans and insurers from requiring prior authorization for these services.
SB 43 (Eggman, D-Stockton)
Follow
Passed off Senate Appropriations Committee suspense file on May 18. Pending a Senate floor vote.
SB 43 would expand the definition of “gravely disabled” for purposes of either placing a person on an involuntary psychiatric hold or conservatorship. The new definition includes conditions that are currently or could result in substantial risk of serious harm to the physical or mental health of a person, due to a mental health or substance use disorder or both. Serious harm is defined as significant deterioration, debilitation, or illness.
SB 45 (Roth, D-Riverside)
Support
Passed off Senate Appropriations Committee suspense file on May 18. Pending a Senate floor vote.
SB 45 would establish the California Acute Care Psychiatric Hospital Loan Fund. The fund would provide zero-interest loans to counties and cities for the purposes of constructing or renovating acute care psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric health facilities. Funds also would be provided for renovating or expanding general acute care hospitals to add or expand an inpatient psychiatric unit.
SB 363 (Eggman, D-Stockton)
Follow
Passed the Senate on May 24. Pending an Assembly policy committee referral.
SB 363 would require the Department of Health Care Services to develop — by 2026 — an online database showing real-time availability of beds within behavioral health facilities. This bill would require facilities to submit accurate and timely information to the database or face plans of correction or monetary penalties from the state. CHA is among the stakeholders the bill would require the department to consult in developing the database.