Mental Health

Record on the issues
Mental Health

Transforming California's Mental Health Response

Rebecca has become a key champion in combating the rising mental health crisis in our communities. In September 2022, Governor Newsom signed into law her landmark bill AB 988, the Miles Hall Lifeline and Suicide Prevention Act, which transforms the way California responds to mental health emergencies. The bill was named for Miles Hall, a 23-year-old who was shot and killed by police officers in 2019 during a mental health crisis.

AB 988 implements 9-8-8, the national Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis hotline, as an alternative to police response. A person in crisis can now call 988 instead of 911 to connect with mental health professionals, and will soon connect with mobile crisis support teams, reducing the role of police in crisis response. Calling 988 is saving lives – a recent study found that at least 1 in 4 fatal law enforcement encounters involves an individual with serious mental illness.

Key Accomplishments:

Miles Hall Lifeline (AB 988) – Transforms California's response to mental health emergencies; created 988 crisis hotline as alternative to 911
Mental Health Privacy (AB 2089) – Implemented HIPAA protections for mental health apps, preventing them from harvesting and selling sensitive information
Social Media Warning Labels (AB 56) – Requires mental health warning labels on social media platforms for users under 18
Psychiatric Workforce (AB 2754) – Modernizes training requirements to increase pipeline of desperately needed psychiatric professionals

OTHER IMPORTANT LEGISLATION

Rebecca has authored and passed bills that correct injustices in other important areas. She's equalized criminal penalties for hate symbols, improved protections for workers in vulnerable positions, combatted harmful discriminatory gendered language, and protected the rights of youth in the justice system.

Hate Crime Penalties (AB 2282) – Equalized criminal penalties for hate symbols including Nazi symbols, burning crosses, and nooses
Worker Protection Package (AB 521, AB 1076) – Required women's restrooms on construction sites; ended unfair noncompete clauses in workers' contracts
LGBTQ+ Rights (AB 439, AB 378) – Added nonbinary options on death certificates; eliminated outdated gendered language in state codes
Youth Rights (AB 2658) – Allows youth to count electronic monitoring time toward sentences
Small Business Support (AB 2011) – Made permanent the small employer family leave mediation program
Tobacco Sales Protection (AB 2021) – Increased penalties for retailers selling tobacco to minors

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

Rebecca has been honored to receive many awards for her work as an Assemblymember on issues that matter the most to her constituents, including these recent highlights:

"Telehealth Legislator of the Year" (2023) – Named by nonprofit NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) for 'Improving Outcomes for Those Impacted by Mental Illness'
Environmental Champion (2024) – Honored by conservation nonprofit CalTrout (California Trout) for her freshwater conservation efforts
"Radke Championing Advocacy Award" (2022) – Awarded by the East Bay Regional Park District and the nonprofit Regional Parks Foundation for her efforts to restore East Bay creeks and protect its vast parklands from wildfire
"Outstanding Elected Official" (2022) – Named by nonprofit Alameda County Psychological Association in recognition of her groundbreaking legislation and ongoing efforts in the important arena of mental health