Mental health and artificial intelligence working group.

Senator Padilla's proposal to evaluate artificial intelligence in mental health care would create a specialized working group to assess emerging technologies and develop policy frameworks through 2031. The Secretary of Government Operations would appoint this group by July 2026, comprising mental health professionals, AI experts, patient advocates, ethicists, and government officials.

The working group would examine how AI technologies like therapeutic tools, virtual assistants, and diagnostic systems could affect mental health treatment outcomes. Their analysis would cover both potential benefits and risks, including privacy concerns and unintended consequences of automated systems. The 17-member body would include four behavioral health professionals, three AI specialists, two patient advocates, two ethics experts, and various state officials.

To gather diverse perspectives, the group would conduct at least three public meetings and collect input from health organizations, academic institutions, technology companies, and advocacy groups. Their findings would be presented in two legislative reports - an initial assessment due July 2028 covering AI applications, risks, and policy recommendations, followed by an implementation update in January 2030. The report would include a framework for training mental health professionals on effectively incorporating AI tools into clinical practice.

The working group would operate under open meeting requirements, with members serving without compensation but receiving expense reimbursements. All provisions would sunset on January 1, 2031, unless extended by future legislation.