Chair of California Mental Health Panel Announces Resignation

Sen. Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) on Tuesday announced his resignation as chair of the Mental Health Oversight and Accountability Commission, which oversees funding for mental health services from Proposition 63, the Los Angeles Times reports.

In 2004, Steinberg helped write Proposition 63, a ballot measure that raised the state income tax on high-income residents to fund mental health care for counties.

The commission helps oversee how the funds are spent and works to ensure that money is spent on innovative strategies aimed at reforming mental health care.

Steinberg has chaired the commission since its July 2005 inception. His resignation will take effect Sept. 28.

The remaining commissioners, most of whom were appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), will select a new chair in the coming weeks or months, according to the Times (Gold/Romney, Los Angeles Times, 9/19).