2022 -- H 7296

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LC004206

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND

HOSPITALS -- GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

     Introduced By: Representative Joseph M. McNamara

     Date Introduced: February 02, 2022

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 40.1-29-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 40.1-29 entitled

"Governor's Council on Behavioral Health" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     40.1-29-3. Members.

     (a) The council shall consist of thirty-one (31) thirty-two (32) voting members.

     (1) There shall be four (4) members of the legislature, two (2) shall be from the senate and

shall be appointed by the senate president to serve for their legislative term, one from each of the

major political parties, and two (2) shall be from the house of representatives and shall be appointed

by the speaker to serve for their legislative term, one from each of the two (2) major political parties.

     (2) The nonlegislative members shall be the executive director of the Substance Use and

Mental Health Leadership Council of RI, the mental health advocate, the child advocate, and a

representative of the AFL-CIO to be appointed by the governor and the president of the Hospital

Association of Rhode Island or a designee thereof.

     (3) The remaining twenty-three (23) public members shall be appointed by and serve at the

pleasure of the governor and shall represent community interests such as substance use disorder

treatment and prevention professionals; youth with behavioral health challenges, or their

representatives; consumers of substance use disorder programs and their families; mental health

treatment professionals; adult and elderly consumers of mental health services and their families;

families of children who are consumers of mental health and substance use disorder services; the

judiciary; criminal justice officials; and local government officials.

     (4) Not less than fifty (50%) percent of the public members shall be individuals who are

not state employees or providers of behavioral health services.

     (5) There shall be sufficient representation by the families of children who are consumers

of mental health and substance use disorder services in order to ensure adequate representation of

such children.

     (6) Every effort shall be made to ensure that appointed members represent the cultural

diversity of the state.

     (7) All members shall have demonstrable expertise in, or experience with, substance use

disorders or mental health services in Rhode Island. In addition, the directors or their designees of

the departments of children, youth and families; corrections; education; health; human services;

behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals; the office of healthy aging; the

attorney general, or designee, and the executive director of the Rhode Island justice commission

shall serve as ex officio and without a vote as members of the council.

     (b) Any vacancy that may occur in the council shall be filled in the same manner as the

original appointments.

     (c) The governor shall designate one member as the chairperson of the council.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND

HOSPITALS -- GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

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     This act would increase the membership of the governor's council on behavioral health

from thirty-one (31) to thirty-two (32) members by adding the president of the Hospital Association

of Rhode Island or a designee.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC004206

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