Behavioral Health Transformation (Proposition 1)
With the support of Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman, proposed Senate Bill 326 to amend the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin proposed Assembly Bill 531 to establish the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond. Together, these two bills created the language for the ballot initiative referred to as Proposition 1. In March of 2024, Californians voted to pass Proposition 1 to modernize the behavioral health delivery system. The passage of the proposition replaced the Mental Health Services Act of 2004 with the Behavioral Health Services Act and established the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond.
The Council continues to track the implementation efforts of Proposition 1, known as the Behavioral Health Transformation, and advocate on behalf of the behavioral health constituency and BHSA target populations. The Council is committed to supporting the successful implementation of the Behavioral Health Transformation by using the expertise of our Council Members and persons with lived experience of mental health and substance use disorders to review and monitor implementation and make policy and regulation recommendations. Written recommendations to date are linked below.
Behavioral Health Services Act Recommendations
Behavioral Health Services Act Population-Based Prevention Program Guide Phase 2 Letter (December 2025)
Behavioral Health Services Act County Policy Manual Performance Measures Letter (December 2025)
CBHPC Response to Behavioral Health Transformation (BHT) Monitoring, Oversight, and Early Intervention of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) and Community-Defined Evidence Practice (CDEP) List (August 2025)
Innovation Partnership Fund Framework Letter (August 2025)
Behavioral Health Transformation Policy Manual Module 3 Release-Integrated Plans Letter (August 2025)
Behavioral Health Transformation Policy Manual Module 1, 2 & 3 Letter (July 2025)
CDPH BHSA Population-Based Prevention Guide Program Guide Phase 1 – Responses (July 2025)
Behavioral Health Transformation Policy Manual-Module 3 (April 2025)
Population Level Behavioral Health Measures Letter (February 2025)
Behavioral Health Transformation Policy Manual Module 2 Comments (December 2024)
Behavioral Health Transformation Policy Manual Module 1 Letter (December 2024)
Behavioral Health Transformation Policy Manual Module 1 Comment (December 2024)
Behavioral Health Transformation (BHT) Behavioral Health Services and Supports (BHSS) Listening Session Response Letter (November 2024)
Behavioral Health Transformation (BHT) Full-Service Partnerships (FSPs) Listening Session Response Letter (November 2024)
Behavioral Health Transformation (BHT) County Integrated Plan for Behavioral Health Services and Outcomes Listening Session Response Letter (June 2024)
Request for Inclusion in Proposition 1 Stakeholder Engagement Process and Development of Regulations and Policies (May 2024)
Behavioral Health Bond Recommendations (Housing)
- Letter to Administration: Behavioral Health Transformation Recommendations on the Definitions of Homelessness (August 2024)
- Letter to Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency: Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act Recommendations (July 2024)
- Letter to CA Department of Housing and Community Development: Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act (BHIBA) Recommendations (May 2024)
Get Involved
The Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) requires counties to submit three-year Integrated Plans outlining how they will utilize all available behavioral health funding and deliver services. The Integrated Plans (IPs) offer a vital opportunity for individuals to participate in local planning for behavioral health services and ensure their voices and needs are reflected. Visit our Integrated Plans page and our How to Participate in Your Local Community Planning Process one-pager for more information.
CBHPC Educational Forums
The Council hosted three educational forums after the passage of Proposition 1 between November to December 2024, one virtual and two in-person, to educate the public and gather input on Behavioral Health Transformation implementation.
Resources
- For up-to-date information on the Behavioral Health Transformation, visit the DHCS Behavioral Health Transformation page.
- For information from the California Department of Public Health, visit the CDPH Transforming Behavioral Health page.
- To learn more about California’s efforts to transform our mental health and Substance Use Disorder system, visit Mental Health for All.
- For more information about Proposition 1, review the Cal Voices’ Proposition 1 Fact Sheet.