Committee backs SB 579 to convene working group on AI use in mental health care

Senator Padilla introduced SB 579, which would direct the Secretary of Government Operations to convene a working group of mental-health experts, technologists, patient advocates and regulators to study the use of artificial intelligence in mental-health treatment and issue recommendations addressing risks, benefits and training.

Professional associations testified in support. Tyler Rindy of the California Psychological Association said AI chatbots have already been marketed as therapeutic substitutes and cited cases where chatbots responded inappropriately to youth expressing suicidality; he and others argued the state should study algorithmic training data, consent, bias, and appropriate clinical uses. Sumaya Nahar of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists said AI tools could reduce paperwork and transcription burdens but raised concerns about data handling, patient consent, and long-term effects on clinical skills.

County behavioral-health directors and psychiatric groups registered support and urged state leadership to produce common-sense guidance. The committee voted to pass SB 579 as amended to the Appropriations Committee; the item was placed on call and later reported out of committee.