Bill Text: MS HB9 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: State Board of Mental Health; reconstitute membership of.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2011-02-01 - Died In Committee [HB9 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2011-HB9-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Human Services
By: Representative Currie
House Bill 9
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-4-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO RECONSTITUTE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE STATE BOARD OF MENTAL HEALTH; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 41-4-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
41-4-3. (1) The present members of the State Board of Mental Health shall continue to serve until their terms expire or until July 1, 2012, whichever is earlier. As a board member's term expires, new appointees shall be selected in accordance with this section so that by July 1, 2012, the board shall be reconstituted as follows:
(a) There is created a State Board of Mental Health, referred to in this chapter as "board," consisting of nine (9) members, to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, each of whom shall be a qualified elector. * * *
(b) The members so appointed shall either be engaged professionally in rendering mental health services or general medical services or be consumers of mental health services or representatives of those consumers. Members engaged professionally in rendering mental health services or general medical services shall be appointed from nominees submitted by their respective state professional associations, as provided in this section. Consumers or their representatives shall not receive financial benefit from an association with the State Department of Mental Health, other board members or providers of mental health services.
(c) All appointees shall be persons knowledgeable in at least one (1) of the matters of jurisdiction of the board. The members of the board shall include at least one (1) of each of the following professionals:
(i) A licensed physician, knowledgeable in psychiatry, who has completed residency training and holds current certification in a specialty granted by a member of the board of the American Board of Medical Specialties, selected from a list of at least three (3) persons nominated by the Mississippi Psychiatric Association;
(ii) A licensed psychologist who holds a Ph.D. degree in psychology, selected from a list of at least three (3) persons nominated by the Mississippi Psychological Association;
(iii) A licensed medical doctor who has completed residency training and holds current certification granted by either The American Board of Family Medicine or The American Board of Internal Medicine, selected from a list of at least three (3) persons nominated by the Mississippi State Medical Association;
(iv) A licensed clinical social worker with experience in public mental health, selected from a list of at least three (3) persons nominated by the Mississippi Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers; and
(v) A registered nurse with a bachelor's degree in nursing and experience in public mental health, selected from a list of at least three (3) persons nominated by the Mississippi Nurses Association.
In addition, the board shall include at least two (2) consumers or representatives of consumers of mental health services.
(2) Of the initial appointments of the reconstituted board, three (3) members shall be appointed for terms that expire on July 1, 2017, three (3) members shall be appointed for terms that expire on July 1, 2016, and three (3) members shall be appointed for terms that expire on July 1, 2013. All later appointments shall be for terms of six (6) years from the expiration date of the previous term. The Governor shall fill any vacancy on the board for the remainder of the unexpired term. All later appointments at the expiration of a term or to fill a vacancy must meet the same qualifications as the member who was initially appointed to that position. No person appointed to the board shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms.
(3) The board shall elect, by majority vote, a chairman whose term of office shall be one (1) year and until his or her successor is elected.
(4) Each board member shall be entitled to a per diem as is authorized by law and all actual and necessary expenses, including mileage as provided by law, incurred in the discharge of official duties.
(5) The board shall hold regular meetings quarterly and any special meetings deemed necessary, except that no official action shall be taken unless there is present a quorum of at least five (5) members.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2011.
