REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 9, 2026
FROM
JOSHUA DUGAS, Acting Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT
Title
Behavioral Health Services Act 2026-29 Integrated Plan
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve the Behavioral Health Services Act 2026-29 Integrated Plan, including Behavioral Health Services Act Compliance Certification forms for the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer and Behavioral Health Director, as required by the California Department of Health Care Services, with total projected expenditures of $2,344,759,538, across all Behavioral Health funding sources, for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029.
2. Approve the Behavioral Health Services Act funding allocations and Mental Health Services Act carryover funds totaling an estimated $915,671,425, as outlined in the Behavioral Health Services Act 2026-29 Integrated Plan, and authorize the allocation of $798,913,521 in Behavioral Health Services Act expenditures, in accordance with the requirements prescribed by the California Department of Health Care Services.
3. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer, as the County Administrator, to sign the Behavioral Health Services Act County Compliance Certification form, as required by the California Department of Health Care Services, for the Behavioral Health Services Act 2026-29 Integrated Plan.
4. Authorize the Director of the Department of Behavioral Health to sign the Behavioral Health Services Act County Compliance Certification form, and electronically transmit the Behavioral Health Services Act 2026-29 Integrated Plan, in addition to the Certification Forms, and execute and submit non-substantive amendments and supplemental documentation related to the Behavioral Health Services Act 2026-29 Integrated Plan as required by the California Department of Health Care Services, subject to review by County Counsel.
5. Direct the Director of the Department of Behavioral Health to transmit the Behavioral Health Services Act 2026-29 Integrated Plan and any non-substantive amendments to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Joshua Dugas, Acting Director, 252-5142)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote and Fulfill the Countywide Vision.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Approval of Recommendation No. 1 reflects San Bernardino County’s (County) projected Behavioral Health (BH) expenditures of $2,344,759,538 across all applicable funding sources, not limited to Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, as outlined in the BHSA 2026-29 Integrated Plan (2026-29 Integrated Plan).
Approval of Recommendation No. 2 authorizes the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) to allocate $798,913,521 in BHSA expenditures from the total estimated $915,671,425 in BHSA transfers, which are included within the total BH projected expenditures of $2,344,759,538, during the 2026-29 plan period. These BHSA expenditures will comply with the spending requirements outlined in the 2026-29 Integrated Plan, as dictated by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Adequate appropriations and revenue are included in DBH’s 2026-27 budget and will be included in future Board of Supervisors (Board) actions or recommended budgets, as needed.
Of the total $2,344,759,538 BH expenditures, $915,671,425 will be allocated to available BHSA transfers over the three-year period, consisting of BHSA funding allocation and unspent Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) carryover funds to the BHSA Fund, effective July 1, 2026. The 2026-29 Integrated Plan allocates $798,913,521 for BHSA expenditures from total BHSA transfers of $915,671,425, for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029.
The remaining estimated BH expenditure balance of $116,757,904 represents projected available BHSA resources and is restricted for allowable BHSA purposes. This balance will fluctuate over time based on revenues received, expenditures, and program implementation. These funds will be allocated and expended in alignment with the County’s approved 2026-29 Integrated Plan, including applicable annual or intermittent updates.
The 2026-29 Integrated Plan has been developed to align with the statutory allocation framework, which generally requires that 30 percent of funds be dedicated to Housing Interventions, and 35 percent each to Full Service Partnership (FSP) and Behavioral Health Services and Supports (BHSS), unless otherwise approved by DHCS through an authorized transfer or exemption process. The BHSA funding summary for these three program components, along with plan administration costs, is presented as follows:
|
BHSA Expenditures |
2026-27 (Year One) |
2027-28 (Year Two) |
2028-29 (Year Three) |
Total |
|
Housing Interventions |
$66,250,612 |
$68,540,530 |
$70,944,506 |
$205,735,648 |
|
FSP |
$75,013,267 |
$75,820,420 |
$76,651,787 |
$227,485,474 |
|
BHSS |
$104,169,534 |
$107,057,461 |
$110,032,027 |
$321,259,022 |
|
Administration: Improvement and Monitoring |
$4,107,299 |
$4,230,518 |
$4,357,433 |
$12,695,250 |
|
Administration: Planning |
$10,268,248 |
$10,576,295 |
$10,893,584 |
$31,738,127 |
|
Total |
$259,808,960 |
$266,225,224 |
$272,879,337 |
$798,913,521 |
In addition, the 2026-29 Integrated Plan incorporates key compliance requirements related to the use of Housing Interventions and BHSS. At least 50 percent of Housing Interventions funding must be directed toward individuals who are chronically homeless. Additionally, at least 51 percent of BHSS funding must be allocated to Early Intervention Programs (EIPs), and at least 51 percent of that amount must be used to serve individuals 25 years of age or younger.
The following table represents the County’s required expenditures included in the final 2026-29 Integrated Plan:
|
Required BHSA Expenditures |
2026-27 (Year One) |
2027-28 (Year Two) |
2028-29 (Year Three) |
|
Housing Interventions Dedicated to Chronically Homeless Population |
$32,080,384 |
$33,573,650 |
$35,123,946 |
|
BHSS: EIPs |
$42,188,106 |
$47,307,068 |
$52,470,215 |
|
BHSS: Youth-Focused (25 years and younger) EIPs |
$21,896,871 |
$24,553,764 |
$27,233,589 |
The 2026-29 Integrated Plan reflects updated allocations to meet this requirement, informed by local needs assessments, point-in-time homelessness data, and projected service capacity. All projected expenditures are aligned with the BH care continuum and are reflected in the DHCS-prescribed 2026-29 Integrated Plan budget template to ensure consistency between planned services, funding sources, and projected outcomes.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In March 2024, California voters approved Proposition 1, initiating a major transformation of the state’s behavioral health system. The measure modernizes MHSA into BHSA, expanding focus to address both mental health and Substance Use Disorders (SUD) while responding to California’s homelessness crisis. Proposition 1 authorized a $6,380,000,000 bond to increase behavioral health treatment capacity and supportive housing statewide, including dedicated resources for veterans and individuals experiencing homelessness.
BHSA prioritizes housing interventions, FSPs, and comprehensive behavioral health services, with an emphasis on equity, accountability, and improved access to care for high-need populations, including individuals with co-occurring conditions. These reforms promote a more integrated, whole-person approach to care and strengthen the continuum of behavioral health.
The 2026-29 Integrated Plan is a required three-year strategic and expenditure plan that outlines how the County will use all behavioral health funding to improve access to care, reduce homelessness, support recovery, and address serious behavioral health needs. The County will align its efforts with six statewide behavioral health goals: improving access to care, reducing untreated behavioral health conditions, reducing homelessness, reducing justice system involvement, reducing institutionalization, and reducing the removal of children from their homes. Informed by local data and community input, the County also identified two additional priorities: to reduce suicides and overdoses.
DBH developed the 2026-29 Integrated Plan in accordance with DHCS requirements and the required stakeholder process. This included a 30-day public comment period from February 27, 2026 through March 30, 2026, and a public hearing held by the Behavioral Health Commission on April 2, 2026.
Focused stakeholder engagement included advisory meetings, surveys, and outreach with residents, providers, community partners, and representatives from the county’s five most populous cities: Victorville, Ontario, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, and Fontana. Feedback highlighted housing and access to care as top priorities and reflected broad support for the draft 2026-29 Integrated Plan.
The draft 2026-29 Integrated Plan was submitted to DHCS on March 13, 2026, with approval from the Chief Executive Officer, in accordance with the DHCS timeline for implementation, and was subsequently revised based on DHCS feedback. The final 2026-29 Integrated Plan incorporates these revisions, including enhancements to adult SUD services, specialty mental health access pathways, and Housing Intervention allocations. Upon Board approval, DBH will submit the final plan to DHCS and the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission within 30 days. The 2026-29 Integrated Plan will become effective July 1, 2026, upon Board approval with subsequent DHCS review for compliance.
The final 2026-29 Integrated Plan requires reporting of projected expenditures for all BH funding sources, including, but not limited to, BHSA-funded programs, capital infrastructure, workforce investments, administrative activities, and other County behavioral health agency services. Consistent with Welfare and Institutions Code section 5892 and DHCS guidance, the final 2026-29 Integrated Plan allocations reflect required component funding distributions across the BHSA Fund, including Housing Interventions, FSP, and BHSS.
DBH will return to the Board, as needed and in accordance with DHCS requirements, to present annual or intermittent updates to the 2026-29 Integrated Plan for consideration throughout 2026-29.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Behavioral Health (Marianna Martinez, Administrative Supervisor II, 383-3940) on May 18, 2026; Deputy County Counsel (Dawn Martin, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 14, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Iliana Rodriguez, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392 and Joon Cho, Chief Administrative Analyst, 658-1812) on May 22, 2026.