DATE: January 29, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Dawan Utecht, Director of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT: Budget Resolutions for Mental Health Services Act Workforce, Education and Training Activities
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing the FY 2018-19 appropriations in the Education and Training Org 1056 in the amount of $2,000,000 (4/5 vote).
2. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing the FY 2018-19 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Behavioral Health Org 5630 in the amount of $2,000,000 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended budget resolutions will increase appropriations and estimated revenues in FY 2018-19 in the Behavioral Health Org 5630 and Education and Training Org 1056, each in the amount of $2,000,000, allowing the Department to expend Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Workforce, Education and Training (WET) funds which are at risk of reversion.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative. If the Board does not approve the recommended actions, the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) will not have sufficient spending authority to expend one-time funding specific to the MHSA WET component and risk reversion of unspent funds, which will negatively impact the Department’s ability to train staff.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The recommended budget resolutions will increase appropriations in FY 2018-19 in the Education and Training Org 1056 using fund balance from the MHSA Special Revenue Fund and increase appropriations and estimated revenues in FY 2018-19 in the WET MHSA Admin Org 56304756 in the amount of $2,000,000 by an operating transfer in from Org 1056.
DISCUSSION:
In November 2004, California voters passed the Mental Health Services Act under Proposition 63, which established a one percent tax on personal income in excess of one million dollars to support investments in mental health services. Under this law, MHSA funds distributed to county mental health plans must be spent within specific categories and within a defined period of time. One category in which counties may set aside a portion of MHSA funds is Workforce Education and Training (WET), which the law specifies must be spent within ten years of initial allocation (June 30, 2017) or be subjected to reversion. Assembly Bill 114: Plan for MHSA Dollars Subject to Reversion, which went into effect on July 10, 2017, amended particular Welfare and Institutions Code sections related to the reversion of MHSA funds subject to reversion as of July 1, 2017 were deemed to have been reverted and reallocated to the county of origin for the purposes for which they were originally allocated. The Department of Health Care Services required that counties have a plan in place, by July 1, 2018, to spend those funds. On December 5, 2017, the Board approved Fresno County’s MHSA FY 2017-18 through 2019-20 Three-Year Expenditure Plan, which is inclusive of this plan. The Three-Year Plan is a process in which the County outlines its MHSA-funded programs, services and activities according to community stakeholder input and the Community Program Planning Process.
The MHSA WET component responsibilities include supporting training, education and workforce development activities in alignment with MHSA-mandated principles to ensure the Department builds a well-trained workforce to provide the most appropriate services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries in need of behavioral health services. MHSA WET component funding is a one-time allocation from the County’s share of State MHSA funds that is categorical in nature, time-limited, and part of a coordinated effort between local, regional and statewide activities. MHSA WET activities will continue to provide and support training and implementation in core competencies, evidence-based clinical practices, and cultural competency. MHSA WET also supports Master’s-level clinical education requirements through placement of graduate students within clinical settings as a requirement of degree completion. MHSA WET also promotes workforce development and career pathway building activities in collaboration with community partners, including local universities and community colleges.
Approval of the recommended actions allows the Department to utilize MHSA WET funds towards activities already approved by Fresno County stakeholders in the MHSA Three-Year Expenditure Plan as mentioned above.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #5, December 5, 2017
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Resolution Org 1056
On file with Clerk - Resolution Org 5630
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander