Chapter 287
2022 -- S 3033
Enacted 06/29/2022

A N   A C T
RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS -- GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Introduced By: Senator Joshua Miller

Date Introduced: June 17, 2022

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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LC006121
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