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The legislature has resumed the 2021-22 session, and bills are currently being introduced. CAMFT staff is monitoring and evaluating the impact of new legislation on CAMFT members. Formal bill positons will be established after all introduced bills have been analyzed. Here are few bills that have been introduced so far that are of interest to staff members:
AB 270 (Ramos) Core Behavioral Health Crisis Services System - This bill will establish a suicide and behavioral health and crisis hotline number, “988” throughout the state. The federal National Suicide Hotline Designation Act designated the three- digit telephone number “988” as the universal number within the United States for the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system. This bill would implement that act in California.
SB 221 (Wiener) Timely Mental Health Care - This bill will establish clear, timely access standards for mental health care follow-up appointments needed by patients throughout ongoing, medically necessary treatment for mental health and substance use disorders.
Existing law requires timely access to urgent care and initial visits.
CAMFT encourages members to visit CAMFT’s Legislative Action Page to learn about all of the bills CAMFT follows, with in-depth descriptions, legislative analyses, and up-to-date status reports. You can also subscribe here to CAMFT’s Action E-Lerts for CAMFT emails on key pieces of legislation.
BBS Telehealth Committee Meeting: CAMFT staff attended the BBS Telehealth Committee meeting on January 22, 2021. During this meeting, the committee discussed and identified topics to be discussed in future meetings. The committee provided an overview of other states’ approaches to telehealth treatment and out-of-state providers treating patients. The BBS also reviewed their existing telehealth regulations.
Expedited Licensure for Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Holders of Special Immigrant Visas: Starting January 1, 2021, individuals in the following categories who apply for licensure by the Board of Behavioral Sciences may seek an expedited licensure process:
In order to receive the expedited licensure process, individuals must provide documentation of their refugee, asylee, or special immigrant visa status when submitting their application package. Please note that this does not mean a license or registration must be issued, but simply that the process will be expedited.
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