CITY OF ALBANY CITY COUNCIL AGENDA STAFF REPORT
Agenda Date: 10/04/04 Prepared Date: 09/27/04 Reviewed by: ______
SUBJECT: Resolution #04-48 in Support of Proposition 63, the California Mental Health Services Act Initiative
REPORT BY: Judy Lieberman, Assistant to the City Administrator
RECOMMENDATION
Approve Resolution #04-48 in Support of Proposition 63, the California Mental Health Services Act Initiative.
BACKGROUND
Proposition 63 would create a 1% tax on taxpayers’ taxable personal income above $1 million to provide dedicated funding for expansion of mental health services and programs. The Legislative Analyst’s estimate of net estimated revenue is $750 million in fiscal year 2005/06, $800 million in fiscal year 2006/07 and comparable amounts annually thereafter. The initiative was authored by Assembly member Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento).
The initiative does the following: Provides funds to counties to expand mental health programs for children, adults, and seniors Requires the state to develop prevention, early intervention, education and training programs Creates a commission to approve county programs and expenditures Prohibits the state from decreasing funding levels for mental health services below the current levels or from changing programs to increase the share of cost borne by counties.
Proponents argue that 40 years ago, California emptied its mental hospitals but failed to fund promised community health services to address the subsequent mental health needs. This measure would use the “integrated services” model to provide comprehensive care and a range of services that would include outreach, medical care, short and long term housing, prescription drugs, self-help and rehabilitation services.
The State Legislative Analyst notes that the State may qualify for an additional $100 million in federal funds related to the expansion of county services under this proposition. In addition, the Analyst notes that studies of such comprehensive mental health programs suggest that much of the cost savings would accrue to local government in savings on public safety and jail operations, medical care, homeless shelters, and social service programs. Cost savings from such programs are anticipated at the low hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
A lengthy list of proponents of the Proposition is attached. The California League of Cities is neutral on this Proposition.
Opponents of Proposition 63 state that the passage of such a tax will drive wealthy tax payers out of California and will be detrimental to the State’s economy. They also state that the tax base will be too volatile to provide a stable base of funds, and lastly that the services to be provided are not effective in reducing mental health problems.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There may be an indirect financial benefit to the City by providing mental health services that alleviate the burden on Police Department services. There would be a 1% tax on taxpayers’ taxable personal income above $1 million
Attachments: List of Endorsers of Proposition 63 Text of the Mental Health Services Act Summary from Voter’s Pamphlet
Physicians' Organizations
California Society of Addiction Medicine California Psychiatric Association California Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Southern California Psychiatric Society Northern California Psychiatric Society San Francisco Psychiatric Society Central California Psychiatric Society Orange County Psychiatric Society California Medical Association California Academy of Family Physicians American Psychiatric Association
Hospitals/Healthcare Organizations
California Healthcare Association San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium California Primary Care Association California Association of Health Facilities Alliance of Catholic Healthcare
Healthcare/Treatment Professionals
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy - California Division California Psychological Association National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists California Association of Psychiatric Technicians California Society for Clinical Social Work Los Angeles County Psychological Association
Nurses Organizations
California Nurses Association American Psychiatric Nursing Association - California Chapter
Mental Health/Substance Abuse Treatment Providers
Bonita House, Inc. Tarzana Treatment Centers Edgewood Center for Children and Families Pacific Clinics Conard House, Inc. Crestwood Behavioral Health, Inc. Crestwood Dreamcatchers Foundation, Inc. California Healthcare Association New Leaf Services Amanecer Community Counseling Services Progress Foundation - SF Oaks Children's Center of San Francisco Hathaway Children & Family Services Richmond Area Multi-Services (RAMS Inc.) - San Francisco DiDi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center Los Angeles Interim Inc. - Monterey Tapestry Family Services, Inc. - Ukiah Alameda Council of Community Mental Health Agencies Crisis Support Services of Alameda County La Familia Counseling Service Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network California (SPAN) Autism & Asperger’s Syndrome Coalition for Education, Networking & Development (AASCEND) San Francisco Casa Pacifica - Camarillo Depression, Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) - Sacramento Richmond Area Multi-Services (RAMS) St. Mary’s Center Oakland La Clinica - Oakland EMQ Children and Family Services
Mental Health Organizations (Statewide)
California Council of Community Mental Health Agencies Mental Health Association in California California Mental Health Planning Council NAMI - California California Network of Mental Health Clients California Association of Social Rehabilitation Agencies California Mental Health Advocates for Children and Youth California Institute for Mental Health California Women’s Mental Health Policy Council (CIMH) California Association of Mental Health Patients Rights Advocates
Mental Health Organizations (Local/Regional)
Association of Community Human Service Agencies Mental Health Association in Los Angeles County Mental Health Association in Orange County Mental Health Association in San Diego County Mental Health Association of Riverside & San Bernardino Counties Mental Health Association of Sacramento Mental Health Association of San Francisco Mental Health Association in Santa Barbara Mental Health Association of Alameda County NAMI Contra Costa NAMI-Morongo NAMI-Southern Santa Barbara County NAMI-Nevada County NAMI-Marin County NAMI-Pomona Valley NAMI-Gold Country NAMI-Yolo County NAMI Ventura County NAMI El Dorado Co., Western Slope & S. Lake Tahoe San Francisco Human Services Network West Los Angeles Council for the Disabled and Seniors
Seniors' and Children's Organizations
Congress of California Seniors Older Women's League of California California Alliance of Child and Family Services United Advocates for Children of California Gray Panthers of California St. Anthony Foundation Sacramento County Children’s Coalition Children’s Advocacy Institute - Sacramento
Veterans' Organizations
Vietnam Veterans of San Diego, Inc. Veterans Crisis Programs of Central California, Fresno
Individual Physicians Elizabeth Galton, M.D. - Los Angeles Marc D. Graff, M.D. - Los Angeles Michael E. Meeks, M.D. Sacramento Robin Cooper, M.D. - San Francisco Sally Kaufmann, M.D. - San Francisco Stuart Schwartz, M.D. - San Francisco Melinda Young, M.D. - Lafayette Sandra Grant, M.D. - Mill Valley Ellen Haller, M.D. - San Francisco Bowe Chung, M.D. - UCLA Marvin Firestone, M.D. - San Mateo Karen J. Kraus, M.D. - Fresno
Mental Health Professionals
Jerry Phelps, PhD - San Diego David R. Kessler, PhD - San Francisco Xiomara Herrera - UCI Linda Hammond, PhD, MFT, CPRP Shaheen Emmanuel Lakhan, PhD, Med (cand.)
Education Organizations
California Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work California Teachers Association California State Parent Teachers Association
Organized Labor
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) - California State Council American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO of California Sacramento Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO California State Employees Association (CSEA) SEIU Local 1000 California Labor Federation - AFL-CIO United Domestic Workers of America
Housing
Central City SRO Collaborative - San Francisco Corporation for Supportive Housing - California Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Housing Corporation Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS) Chinatown Community Development Center San Francisco Marin Housing Council Marin County Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing Community Organizations
Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council - Los Angeles Asian Pacific Council Volunteer Centers of Santa Cruz County Disability Resources Agency for Independent Living Modesto
Public Safety Organizations (police/fire)
CAUSE - Statewide Law Enforcement Association California Police Chiefs Association California Professional Firefighters California State Firefighters Association Forensic Mental Health Association of California Peace Officers Research Association of California California Association of Drug Court Professionals Marin County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association
Public Safety Leaders (police/fire) Sherriff Michael Hennessey, City and County of San Francisco Sacramento County Sheriff Lou Blanas
Religious Organizations
Lutheran Office of Public Policy - California Catholic Charities of California Friends Committee on Legislation
Government Bodies/Elected Officials
Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco Los Angeles City Council Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Sacramento City Council The Oakland City Council The Santa Barbara City Council City of Monterey Park City Council Board of Supervisors of San Mateo County Board of Supervisors of Marin County Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Los Angeles County Mental Health Commission Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority California Mental Health Directors Association County Alcohol and Drug Program Administrators Association of California California Independent Public Employees Legislative Council
Assemblymember Darrell Steinberg - Sacramento Assemblymember Patty Berg - Eureka Assemblymember Rudy Bermudez - Norwalk Assemblymember Ed Chavez - La Puente Assemblymember Judy Chu - Monterey Park Assemblymember Ellen Corbett - San Leandro Assemblymember Mervyn M. Dymally - Compton Assemblymember Marco Firebaugh - East Los Angeles Assemblymember Dario Frommer - Los Angeles Assemblymember Jackie Goldberg - Los Angeles Assemblymember Loni Hancock - Berkeley Assemblymember Christine Kehoe - San Diego Assemblymember Paul Koretz - West Hollywood Assemblymember John Laird - Santa Cruz Assemblymember Mark Leno - San Francisco Assemblymember Lloyd Levine - Van Nuys Assemblymember Sally Lieber - Mountain View Assemblymember John Longville - San Bernardino Assemblymember Alan Lowenthal - Long Beach Assemblymember Gloria Negrete-McLeod - Chino Assemblymember Jenny Oropeza - Long Beach Assemblymember Sarah Reyes - Fresno Assemblymember Mark Ridley-Thomas - Los Angeles Assemblymember Simon Salinas - Salinas Assemblymember Juan Vargas - San Diego Assemblymember, Speaker-emeritus, Herb J. Wesson Jr. - Culver City Assemblymember Patricia Wiggins - Santa Rosa Assemblymember Leland Yee - San Francisco Senator Sheila Kuehl - Los Angeles Senator Byron Sher - Stanford Senator Tom Torlakson - Antioch
Mayor Gavin Newsom - San Francisco Jeff Adachi - San Francisco Public Defender City Council Member Das Williams - Santa Barbara Jim Illig, San Francisco Health Commissioner Tom Ammiano, Supervisor City and County of San Francisco Gerardo Sandoval, Supervisor City and County of San Francisco City Council Member Helen Schneider Santa Barbara Supervisor Keith Carson Alameda Supervisor Illa Collin - Sacramento County Supervisor Alice Lai-Baker Alameda County Supervisor Don Nottoli - Sacramento County
Individuals/Community Leaders
Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy - Former Lt. Gov. of California Shirley M. Neil - Children's Cmte. Chair, Placer County Mental Health Board Barbara Joy Templeton - Commissioner, 1st District Mental Health Board of Santa Cruz County Areta Crowell, Ph.D., (retired Director of Los Angeles County Dept. of Mental Health [1992-1998] and San Diego County Mental Health Division [1988-1992]) Julie Morris, Sacramento Beth Maureen Gray, R.N., B.S. Sacramento Jerry Phelps, PhD La Jolla Susan K. Lacey Former Ventura County Supervisor
Resolution #04-48 RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF PROPOSITION 63, THE 2004 CALIFORNIA MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT INITIATIVE
WHEREAS, there is an urgent need for mental health services for Children, adults and older adults throughout the State of California; and WHEREAS, current funding levels for mental health services do not meet the existing need; and WHEREAS, the Mental Health Services Act, if approved by voters would create a funding mechanism that would generate approximately $600 million annually for mental health services; and WHEREAS, treating mental illness earlier can save millions of dollars through reduced medical, welfare, and public safety costs; and WHEREAS, support of the Mental Health Services Act would further the City of Albany’s commitment to ensure basic health and safety for all, to provide access to health care, and to help all, including the mentally ill, achieve a better quality of life,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Albany does hereby support the Mental Health Services Act of 2004, and encourages the citizens of Albany to support the measure on the November 2, 2004 ballot.
______Jon Ely, Mayor