CA AB2464

Requires the California Health and Human Services Agency to establish and administer the Project ECHO Grant Program upon legislative appropriation to fund pediatric behavioral health teleECHO clinics addressing mental health needs stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Provides a maximum of 8 grants, each not exceeding $225,000, to eligible children's hospitals to operate one-year pediatric behavioral health teleECHO clinics for primary care clinicians, school-based health professionals, and educators.

Grant funding must support planning and curriculum development, recruiting, salaries and fringe benefits for clinic personnel, supplies and equipment, travel costs, facilities and administrative fees, and consultant fees.

Pediatric behavioral health teleECHO clinics must target primary care providers, school-based health and mental health personnel, school administrators, or educators serving kindergarten through grade 12, prioritizing those serving low-income and rural or underserved populations.

Participants must adhere to four ECHO model principles (leveraging technology, sharing best practices, case-based learning, and outcome monitoring) and submit an evaluation report upon program conclusion; these provisions repeal on January 1, 2026.