Committees

Committee Structure

The Commission uses advisory committees to increase its efficiency. Committee meetings are open to the public, and subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act. Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs are appointed annually by the Commission Chair.

Budget and Fiscal Advisory Committee

This committee supports the Commission by monitoring the Commission’s budget and provides recommendations on annual priorities, in alignment with the Program and Legislative and External Affairs Committees. The committee reviews the annual budget, quarterly budget updates, and budget change proposals, as well as fiscal analysis of projects, contracts, and grants, and thereafter recommends Commission action and raises any necessary concerns.

Members

Chair: Commissioner Al Rowlett

Vice Chair: Commissioner Chris Contreras

Commissioner Keyondria Bunch

Commissioner Steve Carnevale

Commissioner Dave Gordon

Commissioner Harabedian (Designee Rosielyn Pulmano)

Commissioner Jevon Wilkes

Legislative and External Affairs Advisory Committee

This committee supports the Commission by shaping the Commission’s legislative agenda and advocacy priorities. The Committee monitors and proposes legislation, engages community leaders, providers, advocates, and other interest holders, and partners with advocacy contract grantees to strengthen their capacity.

Members

Chair: Commissioner Mark Bontrager

Vice Chair: Commissioner Robert Callan Jr.

Commissioner Amy Fairweather

Commissioner Tumboura Hill

Commissioner Karen Larsen

Commissioner Gladys Mitchell

Commissioner Marvin Southard

Commissioner Jay’Riah Thomas-Beckett

Program Advisory Committee

This committee supports the Commission by shaping its program priorities. The committee reviews proposals for research and projects and recommends Commission action. It also ensures transparency, reviewing periodic program updates to certify terms of approval are satisfied, while reporting progress, outcomes, and concerns to the Commission. Proposals requiring Commission resources will be referred by the Program Advisory Committee to the Budget and Fiscal Advisory Committee to secure resource availability. The Program Advisory Committee will have responsibility over any specific authorities granted to the Commission, including the Behavioral Health Wellness Act, Behavioral Health Student Services Act, and Behavioral Health Services Innovation Partnership Fund.

Members

Chair: Commissioner Gary Tsai

Vice Chair: Commissioner Mara Madrigal-Weiss

Commissioner Pamela Baer

Commissioner Michael Bernick

Commissioner Rayshell Chambers

Commissioner Dave Cortese (Designee Marjorie Swartz)

Commissioner Makenzie Cross

Commissioner Brandon Fernandez

Client, Family, and Community Inclusion, Lived Experience, and Diversity Advisory Committee

The Client, Family, and Community Inclusion, Lived Experience, and Diversity Advisory Committee helps ensure the Commission’s work centers the voices of the people most impacted by serious mental illness (SMI), substance use disorder (SUD), and co-occurring SMI/SUD in state-level decisions, as well as centering the voices of peer providers, consumers, family members, and representatives from marginalized communities, including racial, ethnic, linguistic, geographic, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, and other diverse lived experiences.

The Advisory Committee shall provide technical and professional expertise to the Commission on lived experience by providing guidance, reviewing materials, and making recommendations related to:

• Commission research, project development, contracts, and grants. This includes providing recommendations regarding the Commission’s work related to the Innovation Partnership Fund (WIC 58945.1), Mental Health Wellness Act (WIC 5848.5), and the Behavioral Health Student Services Act (WIC 5886).

• Legislation & advocacy regarding existing laws that enhance behavioral health services and access; and

• Other commission initiatives.