CA AB1215

Amends Section 5830 of the Welfare and Institutions Code to modify requirements for county mental health program innovation initiatives funded under the Mental Health Services Act.

Requires county mental health programs to consider, but not mandate, brain research and neuroscience research through the Cal-BRAIN program or similar public-private initiatives when research is selected as an innovative project.

Brain research must focus on understanding, treating, and managing mental illness through studying the brain's physical and biochemical processes and mapping neuron activity.

Adds permanent supportive housing as a category of eligible innovative programs and clarifies that projects can support housing programs that stabilize living situations while providing onsite supportive services.

Maintains existing requirement that county mental health programs obtain approval from the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission before expending innovation program funds.