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:

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

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

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     40.1-29-3. Members.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Association of Rhode Island or a designee thereof.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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judiciary; criminal justice officials; and local government officials.

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

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not state employees or providers of behavioral health services.

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

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

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such children.

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

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diversity of the state.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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original appointments.

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

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     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

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

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of Rhode Island or a designee.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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