California 2023-2024 Regular Session

California Senate Bill SB11

Introduced
12/5/22  
Refer
1/18/23  
Introduced
12/5/22  
Refer
2/22/23  
Refer
1/18/23  
Refer
3/1/23  
Refer
2/22/23  
Report Pass
3/30/23  
Refer
3/1/23  
Report Pass
3/30/23  
Refer
4/10/23  
Refer
4/10/23  
Report Pass
4/27/23  
Report Pass
4/27/23  
Refer
5/1/23  
Refer
5/1/23  
Report Pass
5/18/23  
Report Pass
5/18/23  
Engrossed
5/30/23  
Engrossed
5/30/23  
Refer
6/8/23  
Refer
6/8/23  
Report Pass
6/28/23  
Report Pass
6/28/23  
Refer
6/28/23  
Report Pass
7/12/23  
Refer
7/13/23  
Report Pass
7/12/23  

Caption

California State University: mental health counseling.

Impact

The bill is designed to close gaps in mental health services available to students, a crucial need considering that statistics show one in four students suffers from a diagnosable mental illness. Moreover, with suicide ranked as the second leading cause of death among college students nationally, the importance of timely and accessible counseling cannot be overstated. By stipulating ratios for counselors to students and instilling a funding mechanism for training future counselors, this bill seeks to ensure that CSU students receive adequate mental health support and to ultimately improve their academic and personal outcomes.

Summary

Senate Bill 11, introduced by Senator Menjivar, focuses on enhancing mental health counseling services within the California State University (CSU) system. The bill mandates that each CSU campus maintain a minimum of one full-time equivalent licensed mental health counselor per 1,500 students, aiming to address the growing mental health crisis among college students. The legislation also establishes the Mental Health Professionals Fund, which would be used to provide financial assistance for students pursuing careers as mental health counselors, thereby creating a pipeline to alleviate the shortage of such professionals in California.

Sentiment

Overall sentiment surrounding SB 11 appears supportive, particularly among mental health advocates and educational stakeholders who recognize the urgency of mental health issues in academic settings. The drive to increase the number of mental health professionals aligns with a broader societal acknowledgment of mental health needs. However, potential contention may arise regarding funding for the implementation of this bill, as it will require allocation of financial resources from the state legislature to be successful.

Contention

Discussion around SB 11 may focus on the challenges of providing sustainable funding and ensuring the effective placement of counselors across the diverse campuses of the CSU system. There are concerns that merely establishing ratios may not address localized issues inherent to specific communities, which could necessitate additional resources or alternative solutions. The effectiveness of the bill will be closely monitored, with benchmarks for performance that include regular reports on funding expenditures and the adequacy of mental health services.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

CA AB2784

California State University: Emergency Student Housing Loan Program.

CA SB995

California State University: High-Quality Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act.

CA ACA6

University of California: basic state labor standards.

CA AB656

California State University: doctoral programs.

CA AB990

Public postsecondary education: California State University: University of California: estimates of off-campus housing costs.

CA AB532

California State University Parking Fairness Act.

CA AB1464

California State University: tenure-track positions.

CA AB1964

California State University and California Community Colleges: course articulation: ethnic studies.

CA AB2695

California State University: Cybersecurity Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships Pilot Program.

CA AB1205

California State University students: California Promise: Finish in Four and Through in Two.

Similar Bills

CA SB968

Postsecondary education: mental health counselors.

CA SB660

Postsecondary education: mental health counselors.

CA AB2296

Licensed professional clinical counselors: licensed clinical social workers.

CA AB462

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Act.

CA AB1759

Board of Behavioral Sciences: licensees and registrants: marriage and family therapy, educational psychology, clinical social work, and professional clinical counseling.

CA SB801

Healing arts: Board of Behavioral Sciences: Board of Psychology: licensees.