(a) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall encourage the establishment of subregional planning and action councils. Such councils shall: (1) Determine the extent of the substance abuse problems within their subregions; (2) determine the status of resources to address such problems; (3) identify gaps in the substance abuse service continuum; (4) identify changes to the community environment that will reduce substance abuse; (5) design programs that fill identified service gaps and will reduce substance abuse by changing the community environment; and (6) develop and implement a plan to close such gaps.

(b) Membership of such councils shall include, but need not be limited to, the chief elected official, the chief of police and the superintendent of schools of each municipality within the subregion, one representative designated by the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services from each treatment facility operated by the department and serving such subregion, business and professional leaders, members of the General Assembly, substance abuse service providers and representatives of minority populations, religious organizations, representatives of private funding organizations and the media. Such membership requirements may be waived subject to the approval of the department. Members of the councils shall not be compensated for their services but may be reimbursed by the council for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The members of the council shall elect, by majority vote, a president and such other officers as may be deemed necessary. The councils shall meet at least quarterly.

(c) Each council may employ a director and other necessary staff.

(d) Any council which is incorporated as a nonprofit organization or any nonprofit organization acting as fiduciary for a council may apply to the department for a grant for staffing and administrative costs of the council. The department may adopt regulations pursuant to chapter 54 to establish minimum standards for eligibility of the councils to receive state funds. Any state funds received pursuant to this subsection shall be accounted for annually to the department by the grantee.

(e) Each council shall provide to the department an annual plan in a manner directed by the department. Such plan shall include: (1) Estimates of the extent of substance abuse within the subregion; (2) identifying gaps in the substance abuse service continuum; (3) activities for coordination of prevention, intervention and treatment within the subregion; (4) activities to develop programs that fill identified gaps in service; and (5) activities to develop and implement changes to the community environment that will reduce substance abuse.

(f) Each council may solicit and accept for use local, public and private funds from municipalities, foundations and corporations. Such funds shall be expended to close gaps in the service delivery system identified in the annual plan developed by the council, provided such plan is not in conflict with the department's plan adopted pursuant to subsection (j) of section 17a-451.

(g) The activities of each council shall be limited to planning for service development and coordination and shall not include the provision of services to clients.

(P.A. 90-227, S. 3, 7; P.A. 93-381, S. 26, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 5, 58; P.A. 02-9, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 93-381 replaced Connecticut alcohol and drug abuse commission with department of public health and addiction services, added Subsec. (a)(4) re identifying changes to community and (5) re designing programs to fill service gaps, amended Subsec. (b) re waiver of membership requirements and made technical changes, amended Subsec. (d) re any nonprofit organization acting as a fiduciary and added Subsec. (e)(2) re identifying gaps, (e)(4) re filling identified gaps and (e)(5) re changes to the community environment to reduce substance abuse and amended Subsec. (f) to make technical changes, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17a-664 transferred to Sec. 19a-2e in 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, effective July 1, 1995; Sec. 19a-2e transferred to Sec. 17a-671 in 1997; P.A. 02-9 amended Subsec. (f) by replacing reference to Sec. 19a-7 with reference to Sec. 17a-451(j).