4440 Department of Mental Health
Major Program Changes
  • The Forensic Conditional Release Program (CONREP) mandates responsibility to the DMH for outpatient treatment and supervision of judicially committed patients including Mentally Disordered Offenders, individuals found Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity, Mentally Disordered Sex Offenders, and Sexually Violent Predators (SVPs). The Governor's Budget includes $1.8 million General Fund for 2008-09 to provide an incremental 4-percent rate increase to cover the cost of clinical care incurred by county providers and to fund an estimated increase of 4 SVPs into the program.

  • Since June 2, 2006, California's State Hospitals have operated under a Consent Judgment with the US Department of Justice (USDOJ) in order to address deficiencies in patient treatment and care which were deemed to be violations of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA). In order to ensure that the state hospitals meet the wide-ranging treatment and performance requirements of the Consent Judgment, the Governor's Budget includes an increase of $5.2 million General Fund and 26.6 positions for 2008-09. These additional resources include positions dedicated to monitoring hospital compliance and to the continued implementation of the Wellness and Recovery Model Support System project, an expansive information technology network that will ensure state hospital compliance with CRIPA.

  • The Governor's Budget includes a $52 million General Fund increase to fully fund the AB 3632 Special Education Pupils Program, which transferred responsibility for providing mental health services to special education pupils from school districts to county mental health departments. AB 3632 services include psychotherapy; collateral services; medication monitoring; intensive day treatment, day rehabilitation, and case management.