The California Brown Act, “shall not be construed as preventing a member of the legislative body from engaging in separate conversations or communications on an internet-based social media platform to answer questions, provide information to the public, or to solicit information from the public regarding a matter that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body provided that a majority of the members of the legislative body do not use the internet-based social media platform to discuss among themselves business of a specific nature that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body. A member of the legislative body shall not respond directly to any communication on an internet-based social media platform regarding a matter that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body that is made, posted, or shared by any other member of the legislative body.”
This post, supplied by Gregory Fearon, a member of the legislative body of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors (Sonoma County Behavioral Health Board), is provided in support of an agenda topic on a legally-noticed meeting of that legislative body on March 3rd, 2026.
The Specific Powers and Duties of the Sonoma County Behavioral Health Board are:
a. Review and evaluate on the community’s behavioral health needs, services, facilities
and special problems.
b. Review any County agreements entered into pursuant to Section 5650 of the Code or
any subsequent amendments.
c. Advise the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and the local behavioral health
director as to any aspect of the local behavioral health and substance use disorder
programs.
d. Review and approve the procedures used to ensure citizen and professional
involvement at all stage of the planning process.
e. Submit an annual report to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on the needs and
performance of the County’s behavioral health system.
f. Review and make recommendations on applicants for the appointment of a local
director of behavioral health services. The Board shall be included in the selection
process prior to the vote of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.
g. Review and comment on the County’s performance outcome data and communicate
it’s findings to the State Behavioral Health Planning Council.
h. Review and assess the impact of the realignment of services from the State to the
County, on services delivered to clients, and on the local community.
i. Any additional duties or authority the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors may
transfer to the Board.
The Sonoma County Behavioral Health Board has established a standing committee known as the “Annual Report/Integrated Plan Committee (AR/IP Committee)” for the purpose of 1) fulfilling its reviewing responsibilities in sections a,b,d,f,g & h; 2) submitting an annual report in compliance with section c; and 3) advising the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and the local behavioral health director as to any aspect of the local behavioral health and substance use disorder programs.
Agenda Items for the AR/IP Committee are:
1) Review responsibilities associated with the bolded section of our duties:
a. Review and evaluate on the community’s behavioral health needs, services, facilities
and special problems.
b. Review any County agreements entered into pursuant to Section 5650 of the Code or
any subsequent amendments.
c. Advise the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and the local behavioral health
director as to any aspect of the local behavioral health and substance use disorder
programs.
d. Review and approve the procedures used to ensure citizen and professional
involvement at all stage of the planning process.
e. Submit an annual report to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on the needs and
performance of the County’s behavioral health system.
f. Review and make recommendations on applicants for the appointment of a local
director of behavioral health services. The Board shall be included in the selection
process prior to the vote of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.
g. Review and comment on the County’s performance outcome data and communicate
it’s findings to the State Behavioral Health Planning Council.
h. Review and assess the impact of the realignment of services from the State to the
County, on services delivered to clients, and on the local community.
i. Any additional duties or authority the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors may
transfer to the Board.
2) Determine the contents, and develop a workplan, for the annual report.
3) Review and discuss the information we have been provided concerning the Draft FY26-29 Integrated Plan.
Homeless Emergency Assistance Program Association 