California mental health commission forms three new advisory committees to speed work between meetings

The Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission voted to form three standing advisory committees to deepen work between full meetings and provide public, Bagley-Keene–compliant advice to the full commission. The new committees are the Budget and Fiscal Advisory Committee, the Legislative and External Affairs Advisory Committee, and the Program Advisory Committee.

The commission chair said the committees will be commissioner-only bodies with public access to committee meetings under the Bagley-Keene Open Meetings Act. Chief counsel Sandra Gallardo explained the groups are advisory — they will not take formal actions such as awarding contracts — but will have public agendas, public comment on each agenda item, and a 10-day notice requirement for meetings. The chair said commissioners will be polled for committee preferences and assignments will be made at the April meeting.

Commission staff described the committees’ intended roles: the Budget and Fiscal Advisory Committee will monitor the commission’s budget and recommend priorities; the Legislative and External Affairs Advisory Committee will shape a legislative agenda and partner with advocacy grantees; and the Program Advisory Committee will advise on program priorities, including the Behavioral Health Wellness Act, the Student Services Act, and the Innovation Partnership Fund. Staff said the committees align with the commission’s staffing structure so each committee has a designated staff lead to support work between meetings.

Members of the public urged the commission to ensure community stakeholders have meaningful input. Several callers and in-room commenters said bylaws and past practice call for community membership on advisory groups and recommended the commission either revise its proposal or create robust processes for public participation. Commissioners and staff responded that the two statutorily mandated bodies that include public members — the Client and Family Leadership Committee (CFLC) and the Cultural and Linguistic Competency Committee (CLCC) — will be reengaged and that the new commissioner-only committees are intended to complement, not replace, those standing public committees.

The motion to establish the three advisory committees passed at the meeting. Staff said committee chairs will be appointed annually by the commission chair and that agendas will allow for public discussion and Q&A during committee meetings.

The commission also said it will solicit public input on the CFLC and CLCC to clarify purpose, membership, and expectations before those groups resume regular meetings.