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April 27, 2023: Governor's Proposal to Modernize California's Behavioral Health System
PowerPoint Presentation by HHS and DHCS

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Board & Commission News

Brown Act Updates
Public Emergency Allowances
AB 2449 allows for exemptions from in-person requirements through January 1, 2024 under certain conditions and with certain requirements. See More

Allowances for Members due to "Just Cause" or "Emergency"
[When not operating in a public emergency.] (In effect January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2026): A local board/commission member may participate remotely without posting their physical location on the agenda under certain circumstances and with certain requirements. [See Brown Act Guide, Page 4 for circumstances and requirements.]

WIC 5604 Update - 2022
Membership: Veterans - Link to Membership Code Update (Items in bold (related to veterans) take effect on 1/1/2023). Changes include:

Veteran Requirement: One member shall be a veteran or veteran advocate (For counties with a population of 100,000 or more )
Veteran Encouragement: A county shall give a strong preference to appointing at least one member of the board who is a veteran or a veteran advocate. (For counties with a population fewer than 100,000)
Vacancy Notification: A county shall notify its county veterans service officer about vacancies on the board, if a county has a veterans service officer.
Definition: “Veteran advocate” means either a parent, spouse, or adult child of a veteran, or an individual who is part of a veterans organization, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars or the American Legion.

WIC Update - 2019
The CA government updated Welfare & Institution Code for local mental/behavioral health boards & commissions in the following areas: Bylaws, Duties, MHSA Duties, Expenses, Membership

Brown Act Update - 2017
Teleconference Votes - All votes taken during a teleconferenced meeting shall be by roll call. AB428

Agendas On-line - Board/commission and standing committee agendas shall be posted on the local agency’s internet web site. AB2257

Mental Health Consumers can work for County AND serve on Boards/Commissions - 2015: There is an important change affecting all CA Mental & Behavioral Health Boards and Commissions. This change affects the criteria for members of Mental/Behavioral Health Boards. Consumers (adults with mental illness) who work for County Mental Health (or contractors) can now be appointed to boards (WIC Code 5604 (3) (d) (1) and (2) On-line Link)

CASRA Peer Training Flyer