Portantino Bill Enhancing Youth Representation on Mental Health Boards Passes Senate Health Committee

For Immediate Release: April 27, 2023

Contact: Lerna Shirinian, (818) 409-0400

Portantino Bill Enhancing Youth Representation on Mental Health Boards Passes Senate Health Committee

Sacramento, California – Senate Bill 551, authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D-Burbank), passed the Senate Health Committee. The bill fosters collaboration between local educational agencies (LEAs) and counties by requiring more representation of children and youth on mental health boards, who oversee the allocation of mental health funding.

“When we have stronger partnerships and collaboration, our students benefit,” stated Senator Portantino. “SB 551 strengthens intergovernmental partnerships to ensure that we prioritize our schools. As our youth continue to grapple with behavioral health challenges, we must focus on providing them with the tools they need to improve their mental health and wellbeing which starts with having a seat at the table.”

SB 551 will:

• Require at least 20 percent of the membership on mental health boards be employed by a local educational agency and at least 20 percent be 25 years of age or younger. This will apply to larger counties with a population of 500,000 or more.
  • Require that, in counties with a population fewer than 500,000 but more than 100,000, at least one member be from each of these categories.
  • Require that, in counties with a population below 100,000, the county give a strong preference to at least one member in each of these categories.
• Require that no more than 49 percent of the membership own or operate an organization or business with financial interest.

“Today’s youth face an epidemic of mental stressors in their personal and academic lives,” said Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho. “As education and civic leaders, we must ensure that we pursue all possible measures to help our youth achieve their full potential and arm them with tools to manage their lifelong mental health. This bill strengthens intergovernmental collaboration to ensure that the investments Californians committed to addressing the mental health needs of youth will go toward those goals first and foremost.”

"Students are struggling with mental health now more than ever, but there continues to be underinvestment in youth mental health," said Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Mary Ann Dewan. "This legislation would help address underrepresentation of youth interests by ensuring that county mental health boards, which are responsible for reviewing and helping to create a county's 3 year mental health spending plan, include youth and education representatives."

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