Privacy Policy

The Commission is committed to promoting and protecting privacy rights

Effective 3/28/24

The Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC or Commission) is committed to promoting and protecting the privacy rights of individuals pursuant to Article 1 of the California Constitution and related laws.

The Commission limits the collection and safeguards the privacy of Personal Information that it collects or maintains in accordance with the Information Practices Act (Civil Code Section 1798 et seq.); the Public Records Act (Government Code Section 6250 et seq.); Government Code Sections 11015.5 and 11019.9, and all other applicable state or federal laws pertaining to information privacy. The Commission follows these principles in connection with the collection and management of personal information:

What is Personal Information (PI)? As defined in the Information Practices Act, this means information that identifies or describes an individual including, but not limited to: name, Social Security number, physical description, home address, home telephone number, education, financial matters, and medical or employment history. The Commission limits the collection of PI to what is relevant and necessary to accomplish its lawful purpose. For example, the Commission may need to know an individual’s email address or telephone number to answer their questions or provide requested assistance.

The Commission does not collect PI from persons who simply browse this website. PI is collected through this website only if an individual provides such information voluntarily through surveys, by subscribing to the Commission’s email newsletter, or distribution by emailing mhsoac@mhsoac.ca.gov.

The Commission’s web site uses Google Analytics to track website statistics. A Google tracking code is used by every website or application that employs Google Analytics to store information that identifies information about your device.

If you do nothing during your visit to our website but browse or download information, we automatically collect and store the following information about your visit:

  1. The type of browser and operating system you used;
  2. What language your browser is set to;
  3. The city and zip code you used this website from, based on your internet service provider;
  4. The date and time you visited this website;
  5. The web pages or services you accessed at this website;
  6. If you downloaded a form, the form that was downloaded.

You can download the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on before using this website. This will prevent the collection of anonymous information about your site visit. Selecting to opt-out will not interfere with your ability to use is website.

This website does ​​​not upload cookies or any information or application to your computer or device.

The Commission uses MyEmma by Marigold to manage its email newsletter.

MyEmma collects additional information about subscriber behavior: whether or not a subscriber has opened an email, whether or not the user clicks on a link, which link the subscriber clicks on, if the email was opened on a mobile or desktop device and what type, IP address, and what type of internet connection was used to access the email (mobile operator, browser type, internet service provider). Collecting this behavioral informal is standard, best practice and is used to measure the overall efficacy of an email campaign. This kind of behavioral information is collected through cookies and web beacons.

Use of PI with Consent. You may choose to provide us with specific PI such as your email (for response to a comment or question) or for subscribing to the Commission’s email newsletter. We use the information to improve our service to you or to respond to your request. Except as required by law, we do not share your email or other PI with any other organizations.

The Commission uses PI only as specified and consistent with the principles set forth above unless you consent in advance, or as required by law. 

Public Records Act. The Public Records Act (PRA) exists to ensure that California government is open and that the public has a right to have access to appropriate records and information possessed by many state and local government agencies. At the same time, there are exceptions that recognize the public’s right to access records. These exceptions serve various needs, including maintaining the privacy of individuals. In the event of a conflict between this Policy and the Public Records Act, the Information Practices Act or other law governing the disclosure of records, the applicable law will control. Electronically collected personal information is exempt from requests made under the Public Records Act.

Use of PI. Government Code § 11015.5 prohibits all state agencies from distributing or selling any electronically collected PI to any third party without the permission of the user. However, the Commission does not sell any electronically collected PI and distribution will be limited to the purposes for which it was provided.

The Commission will provide additional explanations of this Privacy Policy upon request. If you have any further questions about this privacy policy, please contact the Commission by phone at (916) 500-0577, or by mail to:

Privacy Policy Coordinator
Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission
1812 9th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811