Borrow $6.4 billion, change mental health law

Update: This prop passed in the March 2024 election. Click here for more information.

Yes Means: 

(1) Fund a $6.4 billion bond to drastically expand the state’s mental health and substance abuse treatment infrastructure by (a) building 10,000 in-patient and residential treatment beds across the state and (b) fund permanent supportive housing with half set aside for veterans with mental illness or addiction disorders.

(2) The second part of the measure would require counties to change the way they spend existing mental health dollars by directing them to prioritize housing for people who are chronically homeless.

• Proponents Say: County mental health money is not reaching the people who need it most — chronically homeless individuals with mental health diagnoses or addiction disorders — and that the state needs to update its mental health system to address how population needs have changed in the past 20 years.

• Who is for Yes: California Teachers Association, California Chamber of Commerce, California Medical Association, Gov. Gavin Newsom, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee and more. 

No Means: No new funding for the state’s mental health and substance abuse treatment infrastructure and now changes will be mandated to how counties spend their mental health money.

• Opponents Say: The changes proposed to the county mental health system will sideline current clients and result in service cuts. Specifically, counties would be required to redirect roughly $1 billion per year from community services toward housing.

• Who is for No: League of Women Voters of California, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Southern California News Group and more. 

Click here to learn about why it's on the ballet and more.