State Measures – 2024 Primary Election

What would it do?

(Calmatters)”This two-pronged measure would fund a $6.4 billion bond to drastically expand the state’s mental health and substance abuse treatment infrastructure. A majority of the money, $4.4 billion, would be used to build 10,000 in-patient and residential treatment beds across the state. The remainder would fund permanent supportive housing with half set aside for veterans with mental illness or addiction disorders.

The second part of the measure would require counties to change the way they spend existing mental health dollars by directing them to prioritize housing for people who are chronically homeless.

Why is it on the ballot?

California faces a shortage of nearly 8,000 adult psychiatric beds, according to research from the RAND Corp. The shortage spans the spectrum of care from acute crisis stabilization beds to long-term sub-acute and community residential services beds. At the same time, demand for youth and adult mental health services and emergency department discharge to psychiatric care are at an all-time high.

The state has also been unable to reverse course on a growing homelessness crisis. More than 170,000 Californians are unhoused, the majority of whom live unsheltered on the streets. Mental health and addiction disorders are highly prevalent among homeless Californians — 82% and 65% respectively — however, research shows that the root cause of homelessness in the Golden State is income loss and lack of affordable housing.

This is the only statewide measure on the March 5 primary ballot — and that’s exactly what Gov. Gavin Newsom wanted. He championed the two laws being combined into the measure. And the Legislature went along by clearing the ballot of any competing bond measures — and of three constitutional amendments, which were put off until the Nov. 5 general election.

(NAMI) NAMI California is proud to support Proposition 1 and the meaningful investment in our state’s behavioral health system to modernize the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) and prioritize funding for individuals living with serious mental illness.  

Our voice was instrumental in getting the MHSA passed in 2004, and there is a reason that MHSA’s heart is “client AND FAMILY driven.” We were pleased to have a seat at the table then, and in subsequent years as it’s been implemented. While the MHSA has positively transformed the public mental health system, addressing the critical needs of those living with serious mental illness has gradually diminished along the way.

NAMI California proudly collaborated with the Newsom Administration, Senator Eggman and Assemblymember Irwin to ensure consideration of family voices throughout the legislative process and are proud to support efforts to reform and strengthen our behavioral health system. 

6 Reasons NAMI California supports Proposition 1:

1. Makes necessary updates to the MHSA, providing funding for services and resources to those living with the most severe mental illness.
2. Enhances state oversight of counties, guaranteeing they are accountable for investments generated through the bond and that voter approval is required for any future amendments.
3. Cements critical resources within the legislative framework to ensure the original MHSA intent remains intact, including funding prioritized for outreach and engagement and stigma reduction and prevention.
4. Increases funding in the Behavioral Health Supports and Services funding bucket, while also funding supportive services such as family engagement and psychoeducation.
5. Provides additional resources for housing, including both community and acute care settings, which address the unique challenges faced by veterans grappling with behavioral health issues.
6. Significantly increases treatment beds, providing funding for 11,000 behavioral health beds and 27,000 outpatient beds to meet the needs of those experiencing severe mental illness.

Together, we can ensure that individuals living with the most serious mental illnesses are receiving the resources and support they need to succeed and that families are supported.

For more information on Proposition 1, visit treatmentnottents.com.

This is a tricky one. The text is 69 pages of PDF; no one will read that. I’m not even sure the legislators that voted for this read it all. So here’s my thinking:

The conservatives and the law and order bunch bitch and moan about homelessness, and how crime is caused by folks with mental illness. But they refuse to do anything about it unless the solution is perfect. The reality is: no solution will be perfect. The search for perfection from the conservative side is just an excuse to not put their money where their mouth is. The truth is that they care about more about what they pay in taxes than doing good for someone else.

Major city sheriffs endorse this, showing that they feel it will make a dent in crime and their work. Conservative area papers endorse this as a step forward.  Law enforcement supports this. Veterans groups support this. The California Medical Association supports this. It is clear this is a step forward, even if not perfect.

I say that we move forward:  Yes

(Disability Rights CA) Proposition 1 is the culmination of the Governor’s massive effort over the last two years to remake mental health services in California. The disturbing consequences will be more people subjected to involuntary detention and treatment without any evidence to support this approach. The Governor’s policies are aimed at people who are unhoused, but his solutions provide no housing guarantees.

In 2022, California enacted CARE Court, which creates a court-ordered program for coerced mental health treatment. In 2023, California enacted SB 43, to make it easier to conserve people. Now, California voters are asked to weigh in on Proposition 1, which combines two bills passed in 2023 that cannot take effect without voter approval.

Proposition 1 rewrites The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), passed by voters in 2004 as Proposition 63. Also known as the “millionaire’s tax,” Proposition 63 has generated billions of dollars for community mental health services. Proposition 1 renames the MHSA as the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) and among its major changes (1) permits funds to be used to treat primary substance use disorder (SUD), and (2) requires 30% of funding to be spent on housing interventions with an emphasis on the chronically homeless. Although housing is a permitted use of funds today, there is no minimum requirement. It will be impossible to ADD people with SUD and ADD a 30% requirement for housing without REDUCING OTHER SERVICES.

The second part of Proposition 1 authorizes the state to issue $6.38 billion in bond funding for “behavioral health treatment and residential setting” projects. We are still uncertain about what types of projects will be funded but we know locked, involuntary treatment beds are contemplated.

Among the many reasons DRC opposes Proposition 1 is the way it came to be. Instead of asking stakeholders to join him in working towards a solution of our mental health policy challenges, Governor Newsom took an entirely different approach. Proposition 1, like CARE Court the year before, was released without meaningful engagement of the people most affected – those with mental health disabilities. When people commit to a solution, they become invested in its success. What we see with Proposition 1 is an alarming expenditure of taxpayer dollars combined with an overhaul of a successful community treatment program, leading to reductions in services.