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Siskiyou supervisors approve submission of Behavioral Health Services Act draft plan over one dissent
Summary
The Board voted 4–1 to authorize submission of the county's Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Three-Year Integrated Plan for FY 2026–2029 after a staff presentation on expanded services, funding and timelines; Supervisor Michael Kobseff cast the lone NO vote.
SISKIYOU COUNTY, Calif. — The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors voted 4–1 on March 17 to authorize submission of the county's draft Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Three-Year Integrated Plan for fiscal years 2026–2029 to the California Department of Health Care Services.
The motion, made by Supervisor Ed Valenzuela and seconded by Supervisor Nancy Ogren, followed a PowerPoint presentation by Mental Health Services Act Coordinator Sarah Evans and Administrative Services Manager Joshua Stanshaw outlining the state's transition from the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) to the BHSA. Staff told the Board the BHSA expands eligible services to include treatment for substance use disorders, broadens eligible populations, expands housing options for vulnerable residents and changes fiscal reporting requirements.
Why it matters: The BHSA alters program eligibility and reporting for counties and could change how local behavioral health and substance use services are funded and delivered. Staff described outreach conducted with stakeholders and outlined the anticipated timeline for public review and final submission to the Department of Health Care Services.
During discussion, supervisors asked about the state's role in developing BHSA policy; Evans and Stanshaw responded that the Department of Health Care Services developed the policy and the state legislature set the framework. The Board authorized County Administrative Officer to sign the draft for submission. The roll-call vote recorded Supervisors Valenzuela, Ogren, Harris and Haupt voting YES and Supervisor Kobseff voting NO.
Supervisor Kobseff did not explain his vote on the record in the minutes; the action is recorded as a standard authorization to submit the draft plan rather than final plan adoption. The county will accept public comment during the review period before filing the final plan with the state.
