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Bill Summary · AB 2247

Summary of AB 2247 (2025-2026) – Trauma Healing and Resilience Investment for Victimized and Exposed Youth Act (T.H.R.I.V.E. Act)

Overview

  • Jurisdiction: California
  • Bill number: AB 2247
  • Sponsor: Assembly Member Elhawary
  • Purpose: Create and fund a program to pay for mental health and counseling services for youth survivors of gun violence and to strengthen timely access to mental health and related services for affected youth. Establishes a dedicated fund and administrative framework through the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and local grantees (counties or city and county leads).

Main Purpose and Intent

  • Provide targeted mental health and counseling support for youth survivors of gun violence.
  • Ensure timely access to nonurgent and urgent mental health services for these youth, including access through nonphysician mental health providers and peer support specialists.
  • Create a predictable, ongoing source of funding (T.H.R.I.V.E. Fund) to support local programs.
  • Improve transparency by annual reporting on program impact and outcomes.

Key Provisions and Changes

Establishment and Administration

  • Creates the Trauma Healing and Resilience Investment for Victimized and Exposed Youth Act (T.H.R.I.V.E. Act), administered by the DHCS.
  • Establishes the Trauma Healing and Resilience Investment for Victimized and Exposed Youth Fund (T.H.R.I.V.E. Fund) in the State Treasury.
  • DHCS awards grants to counties or city and counties (grantees) to establish and administer local programs paying for mental health and counseling services for youth survivors of gun violence who reside in the county or city and county.

Eligible Population

  • Youth survivors of gun violence defined as individuals 25 years old or younger who have:
    • Been shot or shot at, witnessed shooting, or have a close connection (family member or close friend) who was injured or killed by gun violence, including circumstances defined in statute.

Funding and Administration

  • First round of grants to be awarded within nine months of funds being appropriated or enactment, with annual grants thereafter as funds are available.
  • Grantees may designate a lead agency other than a law enforcement agency to administer the program.
  • Administered funds may be used to pay for mental health and counseling services, including stipends to youth or guardians, or direct payments to providers or community-based organizations to distribute funds for services.
  • Cap: Up to 10% of funds may be used for program administration.
  • Annual public report by DHCS on the program’s impact, without identifying individuals (nonidentifying data may be requested).

Service Delivery and Access

  • Grantees must develop policies allowing:

    • Youth survivors or guardians to attest to gun violence experiences without external documentation.
    • Youth to select licensed mental health providers or peer support specialists, regardless of insurance status.
    • A list of local providers with trauma-informed expertise (including ACEs-aware providers) for eligible youth.
    • Non-discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status.
    • No out-of-pocket expense requirements or reimbursement delays to access services.
    • No requirement to report crimes to law enforcement as a condition of receiving services.

  • Each youth may receive up to $7,800 annually for eligible mental health and counseling services (out-of-network or not fully covered) when other funding is insufficient to cover costs.

  • The program is designed to complement, not replace, existing Victims of Crime Compensation Board (Cal-Victim) benefits.

Confidentiality

  • Client information and records of mental health services under the act are confidential and exempt from public records requests.

Coordination with Timely Access Standards (Health Care Plans and Insurers)

  • Section 1367.03 (Health and Safety Code) and Section 10133.54 (Insurance Code) amendments establish stricter timely access requirements for plans and insurers:
    • For nonurgent appointments with nonphysician mental health or substance use disorder providers: minimum wait times of 5 business days for youth survivors of gun violence (beginning January 1, 2027).
    • The definition of “urgent care” is expanded to include requests to initiate services for a youth survivor of gun violence (as of 2027).
    • Timeliness standards apply to both medical and dental, vision, and related plans where applicable.
    • Establishes reporting requirements and potential enforcement actions for noncompliance with timely access standards.
    • Department may issue guidance on annual timely access methodologies; enforcement through penalties remains available.

Privacy and Public-Record Considerations

  • Chapter adds privacy protections for health records associated with the T.H.R.I.V.E. program.
  • Statutory language states that a youth survivor’s health information is confidential and not subject to routine public inspection.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Youth survivors of gun violence (and their families/guardians) within participating California counties and city-county jurisdictions.
  • Local governments in California (as grantees) and potential lead agencies (non-law enforcement).
  • Mental health providers and peer support specialists serving youth in the program.
  • Health care service plans and health insurers operating in California (due to timely access requirements for mental health appointments and triage/screening services).
  • The California Victim Compensation Board (Cal-Victim) interface, as the act coordinates funding streams without displacing existing benefits.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Effective date: Provisions indicate implementation contingent on funds being appropriated; first grants to be awarded within nine months of appropriation/enactment.
  • Annual reporting: The DHCS must publish public impact reports on the program each year.
  • Funding mechanism: Establishment of the THRIVE Fund; annual legislative appropriation required to ensure a minimum level of funding (target of at least $7,800 per survivor per year is stated as legislative intent, not a guaranteed annual minimum if funds are insufficient).
  • Timely access standards: Begin enforcing 5-business-day nonurgent appointments for youth survivors of gun violence with nonphysician mental health providers starting January 1, 2027; “urgent care” includes initiation of services for these youths.

Potential Impacts

  • Increased access to mental health services for youth survivors of gun violence.
  • Financial support options for families and young survivors, including possible stipends and direct payments to providers.
  • Enhanced local capacity to serve trauma-affected youth, with data-driven reporting on outcomes.
  • Expanded state oversight and enforcement of timely access to mental health care for youths, possibly influencing insurer and plan network practices.
  • Confidential handling of sensitive youth mental health information.

Note: This summary reflects the bill text as provided and focuses on substantive provisions, funding mechanisms, eligibility, access standards, and reporting requirements.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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