39-3125. STATE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PLANNING COUNCIL. (1) A state behavioral health planning council, hereinafter referred to as the planning council, shall be established to serve as an advocate for children and adults with behavioral health disorders; to advise the state behavioral health authority on issues of concern, on policies and on programs and to provide guidance to the state behavioral health authority in the development and implementation of the state behavioral health systems plan; to monitor and evaluate the allocation and adequacy of behavioral health services within the state on an ongoing basis; to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of state laws that address behavioral health services; to ensure that individuals with behavioral health disorders have access to prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services; to serve as a vehicle for policy and program development; and to present to the governor, the judiciary and the legislature by June 30 of each year a report on the council’s activities and an evaluation of the current effectiveness of the behavioral health services provided directly or indirectly by the state to adults and children. The planning council shall establish readiness and performance criteria for the regional boards to accept and maintain responsibility for family support and recovery support services. The planning council shall evaluate regional board adherence to the readiness criteria and make a determination if the regional board has demonstrated readiness to accept responsibility over the family support and recovery support services for the region. The planning council shall report to the behavioral health authority if it determines a regional board is not fulfilling its responsibility to administer the family support and recovery support services for the region and recommend the regional behavioral health centers assume responsibility over the services until the board demonstrates it is prepared to regain the responsibility.

(2) The planning council shall be appointed by the governor and be comprised of no more than fifty percent (50%) state employees or providers of behavioral health services. Membership shall also reflect to the extent possible the collective demographic characteristics of Idaho’s citizens. The planning council membership shall include representation from consumers; families of adults with serious mental illness or substance use disorders; behavioral health advocates; prevention specialists; principal state agencies and the judicial branch with respect to behavioral health, education, vocational rehabilitation, adult correction, juvenile justice and law enforcement, title XIX of the social security act and other entitlement programs; public and private entities concerned with the need, planning, operation, funding and use of mental health services or substance use disorders, and related support services; and the regional behavioral health board in each department of health and welfare region as provided for in section 39-3134, Idaho Code. The planning council may include members of the legislature.

(3) The planning council members will serve a term of two (2) years or at the pleasure of the governor, provided however, that of the members first appointed, one-half (1/2) of the appointments shall be for a term of one (1) year and one-half (1/2) of the appointments shall be for a term of two (2) years. The governor will appoint a chair and a vice-chair whose terms will be two (2) years.

(4) The council may establish subcommittees at its discretion.

History:

[39-3125, added 2006, ch. 277, sec. 3, p. 849; am. 2014, ch. 43, sec. 7, p. 109; am. 2018, ch. 34, sec. 2, p. 65.]