ARTICLE 2. Research and Evaluation [4040. - 4046.]

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC 2.

in effect

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 4040. Section 4040.

The State Department of Health Care Services or State Department of State Hospitals may conduct, or contract for, research or evaluation studies that have application to mental health policy and management issues. In selecting areas for study the department shall be guided by the information needs of state and local policymakers and managers, and suggestions from the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 4041. Section 4041.

The department shall serve as a clearinghouse for information on research and evaluation studies relevant to mental health. The department shall review and disseminate the results of local, state, and national research and evaluation studies that have important implications for mental health policy or management.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 4042. Section 4042.

The State Department of State Hospitals shall cooperate and coordinate with other state and local agencies engaged in research and evaluation studies. Effort shall be made to coordinate with research, evaluation, and demonstration efforts of local mental health programs, state hospitals serving persons with mental health disorders, the Department of Rehabilitation, the State Department of Developmental Services, the State Department of Health Care Services, universities, and other special projects conducted or contracted for by the State Department of State Hospitals.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 4043. Section 4043.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department provide leadership in the establishment and funding of mental health research projects. The projects shall lead to better understanding of the etiology of serious mental illness and the development of treatment alternatives necessary to meet the needs of the citizens of this state. (b) The director shall appoint a Mental Health Research Advisory Committee. The committee shall consult with program administrators, providers, consumers, families, and research scientists. The committee shall advise and assist the director in establishing research priorities and in other research related activities as appropriate.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 4044. Section 4044.

Research performed pursuant to this chapter shall have as a priority serious mental disorders. Research shall be conducted in, or in collaboration with, state or local mental health program facilities that serve public needs. In order to preserve continuity, research programs may be funded for up to five years depending upon the nature of the project and availability of funds.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 4045. Section 4045.

In order to improve the quality of mental health care in this state, a portion of the funding for research pursuant to this chapter shall be used to provide technical advice, consultation, and education on diagnosis and treatment within the public mental health system upon request of a county.

Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 4046. Section 4046.

Notwithstanding any other law, designated staff of the State Department of State Hospitals shall have access to state summary criminal history information for patients and formerly committed patients necessary to submit legislative reports for facility and community treatment programs, as well as for research, evaluation, and data analytics. Criminal history records may include individually disaggregated data of arrests, charging offenses, pretrial proceedings, the nature and disposition of criminal charges, and information pertaining to sentencing, incarceration, rehabilitation, and release. Information from criminal history records provided pursuant to this section shall not be used for any purpose other than those specified in this article. The State Department of State Hospitals and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation may exchange criminal identification and information numbers (CII) for the purposes of research and program evaluation under this section.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026