Senate Bill 2339

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MENTAL HEALTH SUMMIT TO STUDY CERTAIN ISSUES RELATING TO THE STATE'S MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM FOR THE ELDERLY AND CHILDREN; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SUMMIT; TO PRESCRIBE THE DUTIES OF THE SUMMIT MEMBERS; TO DIRECT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ADMINISTER AND FACILITATE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SUMMIT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby created the Mental Health Summit to undertake a comprehensive review of the state's mental health system. The summit shall be comprised of twenty-nine (29) members, as follows:

(a) The Chairpersons of the Public Health Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives or their designees;

(b) The Chairpersons of the Judiciary "B" Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives or their designees;

(d) The Speaker of the House of Representatives or a designee;

(e) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health;

(f) The Commissioner of Corrections or a designee;

(g) The Attorney General or a designee;

(h) A member appointed by the Mississippi State Medical Association;

(i) A member appointed by the Mississippi Psychiatric Association;

(j) A member appointed by the Mississippi Hospital Association;

(k) A member appointed by the Mississippi Association of Community Mental Health Centers;

(l) A member appointed by the Mississippi Counseling Association;

(m) A member appointed by the National Association of Social Workers, Mississippi Chapter;

(n) A member of the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police appointed by its executive board president;

(o) A member appointed by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence organization;

(p) A member appointed by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Mississippi Medical Center;

(q) A member appointed by the Mississippi Sheriffs Association;

(r) A member appointed by the Mississippi Chancery Clerk's Association;

(s) A member appointed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mississippi Chapter;

(t) A member who is a physician appointed by the State Board of Mental Health;

(u) A member who is a physician appointed by the State Board of Health;

(v) The President of the Mississippi State Medical Association, to serve as the summit chairperson;

(w) A member appointed by the Mississippi Primary Health Care Association, Inc.;

(x) A family physician appointed by the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians;

(y) A representative of the community mental health centers in Mississippi appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

(z) A representative of the community mental health centers in Mississippi appointed by the Speaker of the House; and

(aa) Dean of the School of Public Health at Jackson State University.

(2) The appointed members of the summit must be appointed within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this act. The members shall be a part of the summit for the life of the summit. Any vacancy in the summit shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner prescribed above. The summit shall hold its first meeting within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this act, on the call of the chairperson of the summit. A majority of the membership of the summit shall constitute a quorum, and shall meet at the call of the chairperson, or upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the summit. All members must be notified in writing of all meetings at least five (5) days before the date on which a meeting of the summit is scheduled.

(3) The summit shall study and make recommendations for improving the mental health and service delivery systems for the elderly and children in Mississippi. In making those recommendations, the summit shall:

(a) Undertake a comprehensive review of all areas of the state's mental health system;

(b) The summit will focus on transforming children's mental health and connecting health care, education and economic development to children's mental health:

(i) One (1) in five (5) children suffer from a mental disorder, one hundred thirty-one thousand (131,000) Mississippi children;

(ii) Adverse childhood experiences increase the risk of adult medical, mental and social problems;

(iii) Fifty percent (50%) of students with a mental disorder drop out of high school;

(iv) Two Hundred Forty-seven Billion Dollars ($247,000,000,000.00) is the estimated annual cost of mental disorders among young people;

(c) Make findings regarding such review and recommendations for changes in oversight, policies, practices and laws designed to enhance mental health services in the state and ensure the interests of mental health patients at every step on the mental health system;

(d) Identify critical problems in the Mississippi Department of Mental Health; and

(e) Consult with state, local and tribal government and nongovernmental leaders, including law enforcement officials, legislators, judges, physicians, civil rights and liberties organizations, and mental health patients who have been treated in the states mental health system.

(4) The Mississippi Department of Mental Health and the State Department of Health shall provide appropriate staff support to assist the summit in carrying out its duties. The Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health and the Executive Director of the State Department of Health shall designate an appropriate employee to act as a point of contact for the provision of staff support to the summit. In addition, the summit may consult with employees of any state agency or department necessary to accomplish the summit's responsibilities under this section.

(5) The members of the summit shall serve without compensation, except the legislative members shall be reimbursed at the same rate as for attending committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session.

(6) The summit shall prepare and submit a final report that contains a detailed statement of findings, conclusions and recommendations of the summit to the Legislature and the Governor by December 31, 2018. It is the intention of the Legislature that, given the importance of the matters before the summit, the summit should work toward unanimously supported findings and recommendations and the summit shall state the vote total for each recommendation contained in its report to the Legislature. The report submitted under this subsection shall be made available to the public.

(7) The recommendations for improving the mental health system in Mississippi may include proposals for specific statutory changes for improving the effectiveness of mental health care and methods to foster cooperation among state agencies and health care providers. The summit shall be abolished upon submission of the report to the Governor and the Legislature.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2018.