To: County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Department of Health Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Nolan Sullivan, 707-565-4474; Melissa Ladrech, 707-565-4909
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Mental Health Board Bylaws Update
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Approve the renaming and expansion of duties of the Sonoma County Mental Health Board as of January 1, 2025, to the Sonoma County Behavioral Health Board per Senate Bill 326.
end
Executive Summary:
In March 2024 California voters passed Senate Bill 326 <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB326> (SB 326), also known as Proposition 1. SB 326 added requirements to the Welfare and Institutions Code that became effective January 1, 2025, including that Mental Health Boards will be renamed Behavioral Health Boards, and the scope of these boards expands to include both the public mental health system and substance use disorder treatment system. The term behavioral health is inclusive of mental health and substance use treatment. The responsibilities of Behavioral Health Boards include reviewing and evaluating the local public mental health system and the local public substance use disorder treatment system.
This item requests Board approval of the proposed changes to our local Mental Health Board and updates to the Bylaws of the newly renamed County of Sonoma Behavioral Health Board. The County of Sonoma Behavioral Health Board shall continue to serve in an advisory role to the Board of Supervisors and continue to require representation from the Board of Supervisors. The County of Sonoma Behavioral Health Board shall submit an annual report to the Board of Supervisors on the needs and performance of the county’s behavioral health system, and review and comment on Sonoma County’s performance outcome data and communicate its findings to the California Behavioral Health Planning Council.
Discussion:
The Sonoma County Mental Health Board collaborates with the Behavioral Health Division of the Sonoma County Department of Health Services to increase public and professional awareness of individuals with mental health challenges. Members contribute to the behavioral health system by listening to public input and working with County Behavioral Health Services staff to create policies that will offer enhanced access to care and resources” to individuals living with mental illness and to their families. The mission <https://sonoma-county.granicus.com/boards/w/808bd6e42edf8e0f/boards/36909> of the Board is to act as a community focal point for mental health issues and to develop a community network to promote the following: coalition building that will create a unified voice to impact public policy and awareness; a wider understanding and knowledge of mental health issues; the integrity of mental health services; and involvement of clients and families in mental health planning.
With the passing of Proposition 1, Mental Health Boards across the state are being renamed and expanding their scope. The newly named Behavioral Health Board shall review and evaluate the community’s behavioral health needs, services, facilities, and special projects within Sonoma County where mental health or substance use disorder evaluations or services are being provided, including, but not limited to, schools, emergency departments, and psychiatric facilities. The Behavioral Health Board shall also review Sonoma County contracts and agreements and may make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding concerns identified within these contracts and agreements. The Behavioral Health Board may advise the Board of Supervisors and the local Behavioral Health Director as to any aspect of the local behavioral health system.
The Behavioral Health Board is required to adhere to requirements from SB 326 <https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB326/id/2834153> which resulted in minor changes to the Mental Health Board’s existing bylaws. Along with the name change, the proposed bylaws now reflect membership requirements including (changes in bold):
• There shall be sixteen (16) members on the Board. At least three members shall be consumers and at least three shall be family members. One of the two additional members shall be an individual who is 25 years of age or younger. The second additional member shall be an employee of local education agency. The Sonoma County Office of Education will be notified of any vacancies on the Board.
• The Executive Committee of the Board shall appoint no less than two (2) Board members (excluding members of the Executive Committee) to the Nominating Committee not later than the April meeting each year.
The complete revised Sonoma County Behavioral Health Board bylaws can be found in Attachment 1, incorporating these requirements and approved by the Sonoma County Mental Health Board on April 15, 2025.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Organizational Excellence
Goal: Goal 2: Establish equitable and data-driven distribution of services
Objective: Objective 2: Identify gaps in the Safety Net system of services and identify areas where departments can address those gaps directly, and seek guidance from the Board when additional resources and/or policy direction is needed.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
4/16/2024 BOS approved amendment to the MHB bylaws (agenda item 15)
Fiscal Summary
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
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Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Behavioral Health Board Bylaws Final 2025
Attachment 2 - Mental Health Board Bylaws Redline 2025
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A