Big City Mayors Unite to Tackle Mental Health Crisis with Full-Service Partnerships (FSP)

Mayors from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Irvine, and other cities highlight how AB 348 (Krell) would fast-track access to FSPs, ensuring life-saving care reaches the state's most vulnerable populations

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, mayors from California's 13 largest cities, in partnership with the Steinberg Institute and the California Behavioral Health Association, announce their push for presumptive eligibility and prioritization of the state's most vulnerable populations under AB 348's Full-Service Partnership (FSP) programs. AB 348 is being authored by Assemblywoman Maggy Krell (AD 6 - Sacramento). 

Most recently, 82% of California's unhoused population reported having lived with serious mental health challenges at one point in their life, often cycling through streets, ERs, and jails without ever receiving the care they need. FSPs provide a proven solution—offering housing assistance, job support, and 24/7 crisis intervention to help stabilize lives. Despite strong support, inconsistent county policies and lengthy evaluations delay access, leaving thousands without critical services. With Proposition 1 requiring counties to expand FSP slots for high-need individuals—unhoused, justice-involved, or recently hospitalized—California's top mayors are calling on lawmakers to streamline the system and ensure life-saving care reaches those who need it most.

"As Mayor of the City of Riverside, I applaud Assemblywoman Krell for introducing AB 348, a critical piece of legislation that will improve the delivery of mental health services for our most vulnerable residents by ensuring stability for those experiencing serious mental illness and homelessness. Riverside is committed to solutions that prioritize both compassion and accountability and AB 348 is a vital step toward that goal." – Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson

"In San Francisco, we are focusing on breaking the cycles of addiction and homelessness while ensuring government accountability. AB 348 (Krell) will help us address the behavioral health crisis on our streets by connecting the highest acuity patients to much needed resources." – San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie

Setting a Standard of Care 
To ensure priority access to FSP programs, AB 348 will establish presumptive eligibility, eliminating administrative barriers and ensuring that individuals in desperate need of care receive it immediately. The bill guarantees that individuals with Serious Mental Illness who meet any of the following criteria would be prioritized for FP enrollment: experiencing unsheltered homelessness, as defined by federal standards; those transitioning to the community after six or more months in a secured treatment institution; individuals with two or more emergency department visits in the past six months; those reentering the community after six or more months in state prison or county jail; and individuals who have been arrested at least twice in the last six months.

By implementing this policy, California can:

• Prevent homelessness and recidivism by connecting at-risk individuals to behavioral health services before they fall through the cracks.
• Reduce delays in care, ensuring people receive critical support as soon as their need is identified.
• Improve care coordination while reducing emergency room visits and unnecessary interactions with law enforcement.
• Align with Proposition 1 and ensure the individuals the BHSA was designed to help—the most vulnerable, high-risk individuals—are prioritized for care.

Counties would only be required to enroll individuals up to the number of available slots funded under Proposition 1, ensuring resources are directed effectively without straining local agencies.  Statewide eligibility criteria and streamlining FSP access will allow California to break the cycle of homelessness, incarceration, and crisis care—giving people the help they need when they need it.

"Right now, the sickest people in California are the ones who struggle the most to access care, and who gets what level of treatment is completely random. That is unacceptable," said Darrell Steinberg, former Sacramento Mayor and Founder of the Steinberg Institute. "We need a statewide standard to ensure that people with the most serious mental illnesses get the intensive care and support they need—no matter where they live. This bill will cut through the inconsistency and make sure the highest-need individuals are connected to the right level of care, without delays or unnecessary barriers."

This bill is co-sponsored by the Steinberg Institute, the Big City Mayors, and the California Behavioral Health Association. 

For more information, visit SteinbergInstitute.org/Legislation.

About the Steinberg Institute 
The Steinberg Institute is dedicated to transforming California's mental health and substance use care systems through education, advocacy, accountability, and inspired leadership. Our vision: California sets the standards for the nation in prevention, treatment, and recovery; where all people receive quality care and support when, where, and for as long as they need it. Founded in 2015 by Sacramento Mayor and former state Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, the institute has been the driving force behind sweeping improvements in California behavioral health policy. Visit us at www.steinberginstitute.org.

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SOURCE Steinberg Institute