53123.4. (a) The 988 State Suicide and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Fund is hereby established in the State Treasury.
(b) (1) The fund shall consist of the revenue generated by the 988 surcharge assessed on users under Section 41020 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, which revenue shall be used solely for the operations of the 988 center and mobile crisis teams, as defined in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Section 1947(b)(2) of Public Law 117-2). The fund shall also consist of any other appropriations made to it by the Legislature.
(2) The revenue generated by the 988 surcharge shall be prioritized to fund the following:
(A) First, the 988 centers, including the efficient and effective routing of telephone calls, personnel, and the provision of acute mental health services through telephone call, text, and chat to the 988 number.
(B) Second, the operation of mobile crisis teams accessed via telephone calls, texts, or chats made to or routed through 988, as specified under Section 4(a)(2)(B) of Public Law 116-172.
(3) Money in the fund shall not be subject to transfer to any other fund or to transfer, assignment, or reassignment for any other use or purpose outside of those specified in this article.
(4) 988 surcharge revenue in the fund shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes specified in this article.
(5) The revenue generated by the 988 surcharge shall be used to supplement and not supplant federal, state, and local funding for 988 centers and mobile crisis services.
(6) The revenue generated by the 988 surcharge may only be used to fund service and operation expenses that are not reimbursable through Medicaid federal financial participation, Medicare, health care service plans, or disability insurers.
(c) The Office of Emergency Services, in consultation with the State Department of Health Care Services, may adopt regulations regarding how funds received shall be disseminated to support the operations of the 988 system and related behavioral health crisis services.
(d) The office shall require an entity seeking funds available through the 988 Suicide and Behavioral Health Crisis Services Fund to annually file an expenditure and outcomes report in a form and manner as determined by the office and the State Department of Health Care Services. The expenditure and outcomes report shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) The total budget.
(2) Number and job classification of personnel.
(3) The number of individuals served.
(4) The outcomes for individuals served, if known.
(5) The health coverage status of individuals served, if known.
(6) The amount billed to and reimbursed by Medi-Cal or other public and private health care service plans or insurers.
(7) Measures of system performance, including capacity, wait time, and the ability to meet demand for services.
(e) The State Treasurer shall report annually to the office on fund deposits and expenditures.
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 747, Sec. 2. (AB 988) Effective September 29, 2022.)