Plain English Breakdown
The official metadata states the bill passed both chambers but also lists a last action of being held under submission, creating uncertainty about its final status.
AB-2259: Prison Mental Health Pilot Program
This bill requires a 3-year test program at two prisons to offer specific mental health therapy for incarcerated people who are not currently classified as needing treatment.
What This Bill Does
- Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to start a 3-year pilot program at two prison institutions.
- Provides access to specified mental health therapy for certain incarcerated persons who do not have current classification for such treatment from the institution.
- Makes communications between an inmate and their assigned therapist confidential during sessions, as specified by law.
- Assigns California Correctional Health Care Services to keep all records created under this pilot program.
- Requires the department to send reports about the program to legislative fiscal and policy committees from March 1, 2028, through March 1, 2031.
Who It Names or Affects
- Incarcerated persons at two specific institutions who are not currently classified for mental health treatment.
- The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
- California Correctional Health Care Services.
- Legislative fiscal and policy committees.
Terms To Know
- Pilot program
- A test project used to try out a new idea before deciding if it should be made permanent or expanded.
- Incarcerated persons
- People who are currently held in prison or jail.
- Confidential
- Private information that is kept secret and not shared with others without permission.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not name the two specific institutions where the program will take place.
- The text uses 'specified' mental health therapy but does not list which types are included in this summary.
- The exact criteria for selecting which incarcerated persons qualify is described only as those not classified by the department.