June 30, 2004

California Proposition 63: Mental Health Services Act

The People of the State of California hereby declare their purpose and intent in enacting this Act to be as follows: (a) To define serious mental illness among children, adults and seniors as a condition deserving priority attention, including prevention and early intervention services and medical and supportive care. (b) To reduce the long-term adverse impact on individuals, families and state and local budgets resulting from untreated serious mental illness. (c) To expand the kinds of successful, innovative service programs for children, adults and seniors begun in California, including culturally and linguistically competent approaches for underserved populations. These programs have already demonstrated their effectiveness in providing outreach and integrated services, including medically necessary psychiatric services, and other services, to individuals most severely affected by or at risk of serious mental illness. (d) To provide state and local funds to adequately meet the needs of all children and adults who can be identified and enrolled in programs under this measure. State funds shall be available to provide services that are not already covered by federally sponsored programs or by individuals? or families? insurance programs. (e) To ensure that all funds are expended in the most cost effective manner and services are provided in accordance with recommended best practices subject to local and state oversight to ensure accountability to taxpayers and to the public.