Steinberg To Leave Prop. 63 Commission

Sen. Darrell Steinberg, one of the the authors of Proposition 63, has announced he will step down as chair of the commission that oversees spending the mental health funds raised by the measure.

"After two and a half years as chair, I leave knowing that we have made remarkable progress and set the stage for serving thousands more Californians living with mental illness," wrote the Sacramento Democrat in a letter to 15 other members of the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission.

Steinberg will formally resign at the board's next meeting Sept. 28.

Approved by voters in 2004, Proposition 63 levied a 1 percent tax on people earning over $1 million to pay for mental health care services. The oversight commission was established to distribute funds to local governments for programs that provide comprehensive care to people suffering from mental illnesses. Services range from medical care and counseling to workforce training and housing.