(a) There shall be a council on children's mental health care organized by the commission that shall design a plan for a statewide system of mental health care for children.

(b) The council shall be co-chaired by the executive director of the commission on children and youth and the commissioner of mental health and substances abuse services, or either of their designees.

(c) Members of the council shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) The commissioners of children's services, finance and administration, health, human services, education, mental health and substance abuse services, and intellectual and developmental disabilities, or their designees;

(2) The director of the bureau of TennCare or the director's designee;

(3) Two (2) persons from the department of mental health and substance abuse services who are selected by the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services; provided, that one (1) person is familiar with children and youth services and one (1) person is familiar with alcohol and drug abuse services;

(4) The chair of the commission on children and youth or the chair's designee;

(5) One (1) member of the governor's personal staff appointed by the governor;

(6) One (1) legislator appointed by the speaker of the senate and one (1) legislator appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

(7) One (1) representative from the comptroller of the treasury.

(d) Other members of the council shall be selected by the co-chairs and shall include:

(1) Four (4) parents of children who have received mental health services from a state agency or other provider and are chosen from nominations received from representatives of statewide organizations that advocate for or serve children's mental health needs, that provide for representation from each of the three (3) grand divisions of the state and from both urban and rural areas;

(2) Two (2) persons who are under twenty-four (24) years of age and who are receiving or have received mental health services from a state agency or other provider and are chosen from nominations received from representatives of statewide organizations that advocate for or serve children's mental health needs;

(3) Three (3) representatives of the community services agencies, or their successor organizations, as established pursuant to § 37-5-304;

(4) Two (2) representatives of a statewide organization that advocates for children's mental health needs;

(5) Two (2) representatives of providers of children's mental health services; and

(6) Three (3) judges chosen by the Tennessee council of juvenile and family court judges that provide for representation from each of the three (3) grand divisions of the state and both urban and rural areas.

(e) Following three (3) consecutive absences, the co-chairs may declare a vacancy and request that a new member be appointed pursuant to this section who meets the criteria of the replaced member.

(f) The members of the council shall receive no salary. Only members of the council selected pursuant to subdivisions (d)(1) and (2) shall be reimbursed necessary travel and per diem expenses as prescribed in the comprehensive travel regulations by the commissioner of finance and administration for employees of this state; provided, that all other members who are employed by the state or who are holding elected office will be compensated and reimbursed in keeping with the performance of their official roles or capacities.

(g) As well as serving as a voting member on the council, the executive director of the commission or the executive director's designee shall also serve as the chief administrative officer of the council. The executive director shall have the authority to conduct ordinary and necessary business in the name of the council in accordance with this section or as determined by the council.

(h) The council shall meet as necessary to transact business; provided, that meetings shall be held at least quarterly and the meetings shall be open to organizations, agencies, and individuals who work in the area of children's mental health, including, but not limited to, mental health services, educational services, substance abuse services, recreational services, social services, health services, vocational services, operational services and nontraditional services, to seek opportunities to collaborate and improve the statewide system of children's mental health care. The council's quarterly meetings shall pay particular attention to interagency collaboration, funding, accountability, information management, and service array.

(i) All meetings held by the council are subject to the open meeting provisions of title 8, chapter 44.