Bill Text: CT SB00841 | 2015 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Implementation Of A Comprehensive Children's Mental, Emotional And Behavioral Health Plan.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Passed) 2015-06-04 - Signed by the Governor [SB00841 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2015-SB00841-Chaptered.html
Substitute Senate Bill No. 841
AN ACT CONCERNING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE CHILDREN'S MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PLAN.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2015) (a) There is established a Children's Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Health Plan Implementation Advisory Board that shall advise (1) the Departments of Children and Families, Developmental Services, Social Services, Public Health, Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Education, the Insurance Department, the Offices of Early Childhood, the Child Advocate and the Healthcare Advocate, the Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch and the Commission on Children, (2) providers of mental, emotional or behavioral health services for children and families, (3) advocates, and (4) others interested in the well-being of children and families in the state regarding: (A) The execution of the comprehensive implementation plan developed pursuant to section 17a-22bb of the general statutes; (B) cataloging the mental, emotional and behavioral health services offered for families with children in the state by agency, service type and funding allocation to reflect capacity and utilization of services; (C) adopting standard definitions and measurements for the services that are delivered, when applicable; and (D) the collaboration of such agencies, providers, advocates and other stakeholders enumerated in said section in order to prevent or reduce the long-term negative impact of mental, emotional and behavioral health issues on children.
(b) The board shall consist of the following members:
(1) Eight appointed by the Commissioner of Children and Families, who shall represent families of children who have been diagnosed with mental, emotional or behavioral health issues;
(2) Two appointed by the Commissioner of Children and Families, who shall represent a private foundation providing mental, emotional or behavioral health care services for children and families in the state;
(3) Four appointed by the Commissioner of Children and Families, who shall be providers of mental, emotional or behavioral health care services for children in the state;
(4) Three appointed by the Commissioner of Children and Families, who shall represent private advocacy groups that provide services for children and families in the state;
(5) One appointed by the Commissioner of Children and Families, who shall represent the United Way of Connecticut 2-1-1 Infoline program;
(6) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a medical doctor representing the Connecticut Children's Medical Center Emergency Department;
(7) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be a superintendent of schools in the state;
(8) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall represent the Connecticut Behavioral Healthcare Partnership;
(9) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate who shall represent the Connecticut Association of School-Based Health Centers;
(10) The Commissioner of Children and Families, or the commissioner's designee;
(11) The Commissioner of Developmental Services, or the commissioner's designee;
(12) The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's designee;
(13) The Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee;
(14) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, or the commissioner's designee;
(15) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee;
(16) The Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the commissioner's designee;
(17) The Insurance Commissioner, or the commissioner's designee;
(18) The executive director of the Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch, or the executive director's designee;
(19) The Child Advocate, or the Child Advocate's designee;
(20) The Healthcare Advocate, or the Healthcare Advocate's designee; and
(21) The executive director of the Commission on Children, or the executive director's designee.
(c) All appointments to the board shall be made not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. All members shall serve an initial term of three years. Following the expiration of their initial terms, subsequent members appointed to the board shall serve two-year terms. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority not later than thirty calendar days after the appointment becomes vacant. Any member previously appointed to the board may be reappointed.
(d) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall select two chairpersons of the board from among the members of the board. Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the board, which shall be held not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section. The board shall meet at least quarterly.
(e) Each member shall be entitled to one vote on the board. A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business, the exercise of any power or the performance of any duty authorized or imposed by law.
(f) Not later than September 15, 2016, and annually thereafter, the board shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children. Such report shall detail (1) the status of the execution of the implementation plan, (2) the level of collaboration among the agencies and stakeholders involved in the execution of the implementation plan, (3) any recommendations for improvements in the execution of the implementation plan or the collaboration among such agencies and stakeholders, and (4) any additional information the board deems necessary and relevant to prevent or reduce the long-term negative impact of mental, emotional and behavioral health issues on children.