143B-148. Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services - members; selection; quorum; compensation.

(a) The Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services of the Department of Health and Human Services shall consist of 32 members, as follows:

(1) Eight shall be appointed by the General Assembly, four upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and four upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate in accordance with G.S. 120-121. In recommending appointments under this section, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall give consideration to ensuring a balance of appointments that represent those who may have knowledge and expertise in adult issues and those who may have knowledge and expertise in children's issues. Of the four appointments recommended by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, one shall be an attorney licensed in this State with preference given to an attorney with experience in the practice of administrative law, one shall be a physician licensed to practice medicine in North Carolina, with preference given to a psychiatrist, and two shall be members of the public. Of the four appointments recommended by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one shall be an attorney licensed in this State with preference given to an attorney with experience in the practice of mental health law, one shall be a physician licensed to practice medicine in North Carolina who has expertise and experience in the field of developmental disabilities, or a professional holding a Ph.D. with experience in the field of developmental disabilities, and two shall be members of the public. Vacancies in appointments made by the General Assembly shall be filled in accordance with G.S. 120-122.

(2) Twenty-four shall be appointed by the Governor, one from each congressional district in the State in accordance with G.S. 147-12(3)b, and the remainder at-large members.

The Governor's appointees shall represent the following categories of appointment:

a. Three professionals licensed or certified under Chapter 90 or Chapter 90B of the General Statutes who are practicing, teaching, or conducting research in the field of mental health.

b. Four consumers or immediate family members of consumers of mental health services. Of these four, at least one shall be a consumer and at least one shall be an immediate family member of a consumer. No more than two of the consumers or immediate family members shall be selected from nominations submitted by the Coalition 2001 or its successor organization.

c. Two professionals licensed or certified under Chapter 90 or Chapter 90B of the General Statutes who are practicing, teaching, or conducting research in the field of developmental disabilities, and one individual who is a "qualified professional" as that term is defined in G.S. 122C-3(31) who has experience in the field of developmental disabilities.

d. Four consumers or immediate family members of consumers of developmental disabilities services. Of these four, at least one shall be a consumer and at least one shall be an immediate family member of a consumer. No more than two of the consumers or immediate family members shall be selected from nominations submitted by the Coalition 2001 or its successor organization.

e. Two professionals licensed or certified under Chapter 90 of the General Statutes who are practicing, teaching, or conducting research in the field of substance abuse, and one professional who is a certified prevention specialist or who specializes in the area of addiction education.

f. An individual knowledgeable and experienced in the field of controlled substances regulation and enforcement. The controlled substances appointee shall be selected from recommendations made by the Attorney General of North Carolina.

g. A physician licensed to practice medicine in North Carolina who has expertise and experience in the field of substance abuse with preference given to a physician that is certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).

h. Four consumers or immediate family members of consumers of substance abuse services. Of these four, at least one shall be a consumer and at least one shall be an immediate family member of a consumer. No more than two of the consumers or immediate family members shall be selected from nominations submitted by the Coalition 2001 or its successor organization.

i. An attorney licensed in this State. The appointments of professionals licensed or certified under Chapter 90 or Chapter 90B of the General Statutes made in accordance with this subdivision, and physicians appointed in accordance with subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be selected from nominations submitted to the appointing authority by the respective professional associations.

(2a) The terms of all Commission members shall be three years. All Commission members shall serve their designated terms and until their successors are duly appointed and qualified. All Commission members may succeed themselves. A member appointed on and after July 1, 2002, shall not serve more than two consecutive terms.

(3) All appointments shall be made pursuant to current federal rules and regulations, when not inconsistent with State law, which prescribe the selection process and demographic characteristics as a necessary condition to the receipt of federal aid.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the provisions of G.S. 143B-13 through 143B-20 relating to appointment, qualifications, terms and removal of members shall apply to all members of the Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services.

(c) Commission members shall receive per diem, travel and subsistence allowances in accordance with G.S. 138-5 and G.S. 138-6, as appropriate.

(d) A majority of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

(e) All clerical and other services required by the Commission shall be supplied by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. To ensure effective and efficient coordination of rules and policies adopted by the Commission and the Secretary, the Secretary shall assign an individual who is knowledgeable about and experienced in the rule-making processes of the Commission and the Secretary and in the fields of mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties and responsibilities.