May 2, 2022 - SACRAMENTO – Last week, Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside) presented Senate Bill (SB) 1143 which establishes a new funding process for counties to use to build additional acute care inpatient psychiatric facilities. The bill earned unanimous support and is on its way to the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

Senator Roth shared: “Our state is at a crossroad to act on the growing mental health crisis that many of us witness daily in our own communities.  Too often, our most vulnerable citizens who experience a mental health illness find themselves waiting for a bed in an acute inpatient psychiatric facility.

Due to the shortage of beds and lack of access to them, some of these folks find themselves in emergency rooms and jails, which are not equipped nor should be a holding station for the vulnerable seeking care.”

SB 1143 follows the path led by Governor Newsom to provide local government with tools and resources to help address our state’s mental health crisis.  This bill establishes a revolving loan fund that qualifying counties could tap to provide essential bridge funding to build additional acute inpatient psychiatric beds.”

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Senator Richard D. Roth represents the 31st State Senate District, which includes the communities of Corona, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, March Air Reserve Base, Moreno Valley, Norco, Perris, and Riverside. Prior to his election, he served for 32 years in the United States Air Force, retiring in 2007 in the grade of Major General. More information about Senator Roth can be found at https://sd31.senate.ca.gov/
Source: Senator Richard D. Roth