Tuesday, May 03, 2005

Millionaires And Mental Health: Proposition 63 In California Article in Health Affairs - "In November 2004 California passed Proposition 63, a landmark piece of mental health and fiscal legislation. This initiative places a 1 percent tax on adjusted gross income over $1 million, affecting about 30,000 taxpayers and raising $1.8 billion (a 31 percent increase) in new revenues over the first three years to support county-operated mental health systems. Our analysis suggests that Proposition 63 passed with strong support from Democrats, urban dwellers, and social workers and in counties with high rates of homelessness. Proposition 63 faces challenges in implementation and provides unprecedented opportunities for transformation and change. California passed Proposition 63, a landmark piece of mental health and fiscal legislation, in the November 2004 election. California has a long history of using the initiative process to pass laws that are often controversial and influence the rest of the nation." Also available in Acrobat format (PDF).