California
California Launches $28 Billion Mental Health Overhaul: Proposition 1 on March 2024 Ballot – SM Mirror
Governor Newsom Signs Bills to Tackle Crisis with $6.38 Billion Investment
By Dolores Quintana
In a groundbreaking move poised to reshape the landscape of mental health care in California, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law two significant bills aimed at overhauling the state’s mental health and substance use disorder treatment systems. This marks the first substantial transformation in decades, with the legislative package collectively known as Proposition 1 set to go before Californian voters on the March 2024 ballot.
The newly enacted laws include Senate Bill 326, sponsored by Senator Eggman (D – Stockton), which modernizes the Mental Health Services Act, and Assembly Bill 531, championed by Assemblymember Irwin (D – Thousand Oaks), featuring a $6.38 billion bond dedicated to constructing new behavioral health housing and treatment facilities statewide.
Governor Newsom, flanked by legislative and local leaders, families, advocates, veterans, and healthcare professionals, emphasized the monumental impact of these legislative reforms. The bills aim to refocus existing funds, amounting to $6.38 billion, to prioritize individuals with profound mental health needs, those living in encampments, and those grappling with severe substance use issues.
The $6.38 billion bond component of the legislation is earmarked for the creation of 11,150 new behavioral health beds, supportive housing units, and 26,700 outpatient treatment slots. This expansive capacity is expected to significantly address the critical needs of various demographics, ranging from homeless Californians with severe behavioral health issues to children battling depression.
Governor Newsom underscored the urgency of these reforms, stating, “These reforms, and this new investment in behavioral health housing, will help California make good on promises made decades ago.” The comprehensive approach is designed to facilitate the transition of individuals from the streets and tents into effective treatment.
The signing of Senate Bill 326 modernizes the Mental Health Services Act to align with the current behavioral health system and demand for services. The reforms extend services to encompass treatment for substance use disorders, prioritize care for those with severe mental illnesses, allocate ongoing resources for housing and workforce, and continue investments in prevention, early intervention, and innovative pilot programs. The bill introduces enhanced accountability measures to ensure tangible results for all families and communities.
Assembly Bill 531, on the other hand, allocates the $6.38 billion general obligation bond to fund the construction of 11,150 new treatment beds and supportive housing units, along with outpatient capacity. This historic investment represents the most significant expansion of California’s behavioral health treatment and residential settings to date, specifically addressing the needs of homeless individuals with behavioral health issues and veterans. The bond includes a $1 billion set aside for veterans’ housing.
In tandem with these transformative legislative actions, Governor Newsom announced the “California Mental Health Movement,” a comprehensive plan to address the mental health and substance use disorder crises affecting communities across the state. This multi-year initiative encompasses over $28 billion and focuses on four key pillars:
- Treatment and Housing for Those Who Need it Most: An investment of $10.9 billion to create approximately 24,800 beds/units and 45,800 outpatient treatment slots for Californians with behavioral health issues.
- Increasing Access to Mental Health Services for All: An allocation of over $10.1 billion to expand access to behavioral health services for all Californians, transforming Medi-Cal, and developing a plan to raise private and commercial health plans’ standards.
- Building our Health Care Workforce: A $5.1 billion investment, with an additional proposed $2.4 billion through reforms to the Mental Health Services Act, to train and support over 65,000 new healthcare workers in the next five years.
- Supporting and Serving Kids: An investment of $4.6 billion to support children through the Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health, enhancing funding for student behavioral health services in California’s 10,000 public schools.
First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom expressed pride in the initiative, stating, “The mental health crisis – especially amongst youth – is the most significant public health concern of our time.” The “California Mental Health Movement” strives for a comprehensive, holistic approach centered on recognizing the humanity in each Californian. With this landmark legislation and ambitious multi-year plan, California takes a monumental step toward addressing mental health challenges and fostering a healthier future for all residents.
California
Republican governor candidate Chad Bianco says he’s the ‘antithesis to California state government’
We are counting down to the California governor’s race. Chad Bianco, the sheriff of Riverside County, is one of the two biggest names running on the Republican ticket.
In a one-on-one interview with Eyewitness News political reporter Josh Haskell, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said, “I am the antithesis to California state government because I am going to take a nuclear bomb into that building and absolutely destroy everything that they do to us behind closed doors.”
Although he’s been elected by the voters twice, Bianco says he’s not a politician — which is why he believes his campaign for California governor is resonating, as reflected in the polls.
“President Trump, in one year, from 2025 when he took over, until now, did absolutely nothing to harm California. What’s harming California is 30 years of Democrat one-party rule that have created an environment here that no one can live in anymore. They’ve only been successful here in California because we vote D no matter what. You vote D or die. I mean, that’s it. Charles Manson would be elected in California if he was the only Democrat on the ballot,” Bianco said.
Bianco isn’t the only conservative Republican running for governor, and according to polling, he’s neck-and-neck with former Fox News host Steve Hilton.
SEE ALSO: CA governor candidate Steve Hilton says ‘everybody supports’ Trump’s immigration policies
Leading in some polls in the wide-open California Governor’s race as the June primary creeps closer is Republican and former Fox News host Steve Hilton.
“Steve has no chance of winning in November. The Democrats know that I’m going to win in November, and so they have to do everything they can to keep me out of that,” Bianco said.
When asked about the affordability crisis in the state, Bianco said, “Almost the entire issue of affordability in California is because of regulation, excessive regulation imposed by government. Every single regulation can be signed away with the governor’s signature.”
“It is a drug and alcohol addiction problem that, and a mental health problem,” he said about the homelessness crisis. “Every single bit of money that is going to these nonprofits that say ‘homeless,’ zero money. You’re getting absolutely nothing. I can’t tell you that we would end what we see in the homeless situation within a year, but I guarantee you we would never see it again after two years.”
When challenged on that prediction, pointing to how the state doesn’t have the facilities to treat the number of people living on our streets, Bianco responded, “We have been conditioned to believe that buildings take five years to build. It takes 90 days or less to build a house, but in California, it takes three to five years because the government won’t allow it. The regulations that are destroying this state are going to be removed with me as the governor.”
Bianco also said California jails shouldn’t have to play the role of treatment facilities.
Although he says he supports the Trump administration and wants the president’s endorsement, Bianco has been traveling the state — meeting not just with Republicans, but Democrats and independents as well. He says all of our state government officials have failed.
The primary election is June 2.
No clear front-runner in race for California governor, new poll shows
A new poll shows there’s still no clear front-runner in the race to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Copyright © 2026 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.
California
PlayOn Sports fined $1.1 million by California watchdog over student data violations
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (FOX26) — California’s privacy watchdog has ordered PlayOn Sports to pay a $1.10 million fine and change how it handles consumer data after finding the company’s practices violated state law in ways that affected students and schools in the state.
The California Privacy Protection Agency Board issued the decision following a settlement reached by CalPrivacy’s Enforcement Division.
The decision is the first by the board to address privacy violations involving students and California schools.
Schools across the country use PlayOn Sports’ GoFan platform to sell digital tickets to high school sporting events, theater performances, and homecoming and prom dances, with attendees presenting tickets at the door on their mobile phones.
Schools also use PlayOn Sports’ platforms for other sports-related activities, including attending games, streaming them online, and looking up statistics about teams and players.
In California, about 1,400 schools contract with PlayOn Sports for these services.
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GoFan is also the official ticketing platform for the California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body for high school sports.
According to the board’s decision, PlayOn Sports used tracking technologies to collect personal information and deliver targeted advertisements to ticketholders and others using its services.
The company allegedly required Californians to click “agree” to tracking technologies before they could use their tickets or view PlayOn Sports websites, without providing a sufficient opt-out option.
“Students trying to go to prom or a high school football game shouldn’t have to leave their privacy rights at the door,” said Michael Macko, CalPrivacy’s head of enforcement. “You couldn’t attend these events without showing your ticket, and you couldn’t show your ticket without being tracked for advertising. California’s privacy law does not work that way. Businesses must ensure they offer lawful ways for Californians to opt-out, particularly with captive audiences.”
The decision also describes students as a uniquely vulnerable population and warns that targeted advertising systems can subject students to profiling that can follow them for years, expose them to manipulative or harmful content, and develop sensitive inferences about their lives.
Instead of providing its own opt-out method, PlayOn Sports directed students and other users to opt out through the Network Advertising Initiative and the Digital Advertising Alliance, which the decision said violated the company’s responsibility to provide its own way for consumers to opt out. The company also allegedly failed to recognize opt-out preference signals and did not provide Californians with sufficient notice of its privacy practices.
“We are committed to making it as easy as possible for all Californians — from high school students to older adults, and everyone in between — to make the choice of whether they want to be tracked or not,” said Tom Kemp, CalPrivacy’s executive director. “Californians can opt-out with covered businesses, and they can sign up for the newly launched DROP system to request that data brokers delete their personal information.”
Beyond the $1.10 million fine, the board’s order requires PlayOn Sports to conduct risk assessments, provide disclosures that are easy to read and understand, and implement proper opt-out methods.
The order also requires the company to comply with California’s privacy law prohibiting the selling or sharing of personal information of consumers between 13 and 16 without their affirmative opt-in consent.
California
California bill to bar police from taking second job with ICE advances in state Assembly
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 4:43AM
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KABC) — A bill that would prevent police officers from moonlighting with federal immigration enforcement agencies, such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is advancing through the California State Assembly.
AB 1537 passed the State Assembly’s committee on public safety on Tuesday.
The bill also requires that officers report any offers for secondary employment related to immigration enforcement to their place of work.
Those failing to comply could face decertification as a peace officer in California.
The bill was introduced by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, whose district includes Mar Vista, Ladera Heights, Mid-Wilshire and parts of South Los Angeles.
Copyright © 2026 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.
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