(a) Each catchment area council shall consist of one representative from each town or portion thereof located within the same catchment area, except that if a catchment area consists of (1) only two towns or portions thereof, three representatives shall be appointed from each town or portion thereof or (2) only one town or portion thereof, seven representatives shall be appointed. Such representatives shall be consumers and shall be appointed by the first selectmen, mayor or governing official of such town or portion thereof. The representatives appointed shall elect by majority vote an additional number of representatives, which number shall not exceed the number initially appointed. Not less than fifty-one per cent and not more than sixty per cent of the total catchment area council membership shall be consumers.

(b) Each catchment area council shall study and evaluate the delivery of mental health services in its respective catchment area in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Each council shall make such reports and recommendations to the regional mental health boards as such boards may require or which the catchment area council may deem necessary.

(c) Each catchment area council shall elect four members of its council to serve as members of the regional mental health board of the region in which it is located, not more than two of whom shall be providers of mental health services. The regional mental health boards shall consist of the members elected by the catchment area councils and one representative designated by the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services from each state-operated facility serving the region.

(d) Members of catchment area councils shall receive no compensation for their services but may be reimbursed by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(P.A. 75-563, S. 5, 14; P.A. 79-29; P.A. 80-343; P.A. 81-473, S. 10, 43; P.A. 82-198, S. 4, 7; P.A. 95-257, S. 11, 58; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 7, 88.)

History: P.A. 79-29 changed representation provision – whereas there were previously three representatives for catchment areas consisting of less than three towns, now there were three representatives from each town for areas of two towns and seven representatives for areas consisting of one town; P.A. 80-343 replaced provisions of former Subsec. (d) re assistance of mental health planning councils in organizing catchment area councils with new provisions re compensation and reimbursement for expenses; P.A. 81-473 changed the membership of the regional mental health boards to include three, rather than four, members of the region's catchment area council and one representative from each facility serving the region and restricted memberships held by mental health services providers to one rather than two; P.A. 82-198 changed term “directors” to “members”, increased number of members from three to four and provided that not more than two members could be providers of mental health services; Sec. 17-226k transferred to Sec. 17a-483 in 1991; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Mental Health with Commissioner and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, effective July 1, 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8 deleted reference to regional mental health directors in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1997.

See Sec. 17a-478 re establishment of mental health regions.

See Sec. 17a-482 for applicable definitions.

See Sec. 17a-484 re regional mental health boards.