Assembly BillFailedWelfare and Institutions
AB 73: Mental Health: Black Mental Health Navigator Certification.
What AB 73 does, verified February 3, 2026
The bill aims to establish a specialty certificate program for black mental health navigators. This program will require specialized training and criteria for certification. The Department of Health Care Access and Information will be responsible for developing and approving the program. The department must collect and publish data annually, including the number of certified individuals and those employed in community health worker roles. This data will help track the effectiveness of the program and improve access to mental health services in the community. The program's development and implementation will be subject to legislative appropriation.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
2In CommitteeCurrent
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. (2026-02-02)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions9 total · showing 5
| Feb. 02, 2026 | From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| Jan. 31, 2026 | Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution. |
| May. 23, 2025 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| Apr. 09, 2025 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Mar. 26, 2025 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, December 12, 2024 · 502 words
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 73
| Introduced by Assembly Member Jackson |
December 12, 2024 |
An act to add Sections 18998.15 and 18998.35 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to mental health.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 73, as introduced, Jackson. Mental Health: Black Mental Health Navigator Certification.
Existing law establishes, within the Health and Welfare Agency, the Department of Health Care Access and Information, which is responsible for, among other things, administering various health professions training and development programs. Existing law requires the department to develop and approve statewide requirements for community health worker certificate programs. Existing law defines “community health worker” to mean a liaison, link, or intermediary between health and social services and the community to facilitate access to services and to improve the access and cultural competence of service delivery.
This bill would require the department to develop criteria for a specialty certificate program and specialized training requirements for a Black Mental Health Navigator Certification, as specified. The bill would require the department to collect and regularly publish data, not less than annually, including, but not limited to, the number of individuals certified, including those who complete a specialty certificate program, as specified, and the number of individuals who are actively employed in a community health worker role. The bill would make these provisions subject to an appropriation by the Legislature.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 18998.15 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:18998.15.
(a) (1) Pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 18998.1, the department shall, upon appropriation by the Legislature, develop criteria for a specialty certificate program and specialized training requirements for a Black Mental Health Navigator Certification.(2) The department shall solicit stakeholder feedback on the criteria for the certificate.
(3) The department may engage a community-based organization with relevant expertise about mental health and wellness in Black communities to advise on or to develop the criteria.
(b) The Black Mental Health Navigator Certification specialty certificate program and specialized training shall include comprehensive training in mental health resources and awareness, including, but not limited to, entry-level assessments, crisis intervention training for nonemergency cases, navigation support, and culturally specific practices relative to delivering public health and mental health assistance to help connect individuals with state resources, licensed mental health professionals, and wellness services.
SEC. 2.
Section 18998.35 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:18998.35.
(a) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, the department shall collect and regularly publish data, not less than annually, including, but not limited to, both of the following:(1) The number of individuals certified, and corresponding demographic information on the individuals certified, including those who complete a specialty certificate program and specialized training, by each type of certificate.
(2) The number of individuals who are actively employed in a community health worker role.
(b) This section does not require the reporting of the names or personal identifying information.
Text of AB 73 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions