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Voters Will Decide On Updating California's Mental Health And Housing Laws
California Gov. Gavin Newsom displays seven bills signed as he joins city leaders in celebration of legislation to support the state's expansion of mental health services in Los Angeles in 2021.
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Topline:
Why it matters: The Newsom administration is trying to update the way mental health is treated in California with a pair of bills. One bill , AB 531, will put a $6.4 billion bond on the March ballot to build over 11,000 treatment beds and supportive housing units.
The other bill, SB 326, will require counties to spend 30% of its Mental Health Services Act funding on housing.
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Critics say the changes are too restrictive to the spending oversight of counties and could lead to more involuntary treatment.
Newsom’s office said the bills are part of the “‘California Mental Health Movement," which is his sweeping plan to address the mental health and substance use disorder crises.
Why now: The change is part of Newsom’s massive overhaul of California's decades-old mental health laws. If approved by voters, Proposition 1 would expand Newsom's “‘California Mental Health Movement" which includes the CARE court system.
What's next: Proposition 1 will appear on the ballot before voters in Mar. 2024.
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