Senate Bill 2481

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MENTAL HEALTH TASK FORCE TO STUDY CERTAIN ISSUES RELATING TO THE STATE'S MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE TASK FORCE; TO PRESCRIBE THE DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby created the Mental Health Task Force to undertake a comprehensive review of the state's mental health system. The task force shall be comprised of twenty-six (26) members, as follows:

(a) The Chairpersons of the Public Health Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives or their designees;

(b) The Chairpersons of the Judiciary "B" Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives or their designees;

(d) The Speaker of the House of Representatives or a designee;

(e) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health;

(f) The Commissioner of Corrections or a designee;

(g) The Attorney General or a designee;

(h) A state Supreme Court justice or Court of Appeals judge, appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi;

(i) A member appointed by the Mississippi State Medical Association;

(j) A member appointed by the Mississippi Psychiatric Association;

(k) A member appointed by the Mississippi Hospital Association;

(l) A member appointed by the Mississippi Association of Community Mental Health Centers;

(m) A member appointed by Mississippi Counseling Association;

(n) A member appointed by the National Association of Social Workers, Mississippi Chapter;

(o) A member of the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police appointed by its executive board president;

(p) A member appointed by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence organization;

(q) A member appointed by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Mississippi Medical Center;

(r) A member appointed by the Mississippi Sheriffs Association;

(s) A member appointed by the Mississippi Chancery Clerk's Association;

(t) A member appointed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mississippi Chapter;

(u) A member who is a physician appointed by the State Board of Mental Health;

(v) A member who is a physician appointed by the State Board of Health;

(w) A member who is a physician appointed by the Executive Director of the Division of Medicaid; and

(x) The President of the Mississippi State Medical Association, to serve as the task force chairperson.

(2) The appointed members of the task force must be appointed within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this act. The members shall be a part of the task force for the life of the task force. Any vacancy in the task force shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner prescribed above. The task force shall hold its first meeting within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this act, on the call of the Commissioner of Corrections. A majority of the membership of the task force shall constitute a quorum, and shall meet at the call of the chairperson, or upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the task force. All members must be notified in writing of all meetings at least five (5) days before the date on which a meeting of the task force is scheduled.

(3) The task force shall study and make recommendations for improving the mental health system in Mississippi. In making those recommendations, the task force shall:

(a) Undertake a comprehensive review of all areas of the state's mental health system;

(b) Review the structure and authority granted to the Mississippi Board of Mental Health;

(c) Make findings regarding such review and recommendations for changes in oversight, policies, practices and laws designed to enhance mental health services in the state and ensure the interests of mental health patients at every step on the mental health system;

(d) Identify critical problems in the Mississippi Department of Mental Health;

(e) Consult with state, local and tribal government and nongovernmental leaders, including law enforcement officials, legislators, judges, physicians, civil rights and liberties organizations, and mental health patients who have been treated in the states mental health system; and

(f) The Mississippi Department of Mental Health shall provide appropriate staff support to assist the task force in carrying out its duties. The Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health shall designate an appropriate employee to act as a point of contact for the provision of staff support to the task force. In addition, the task force may consult with employees of any state agency or department necessary to accomplish the task force's responsibilities under this section.

(4) The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, except the legislative members shall be reimbursed at the same rate as for attending committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session.

(5) The task force shall prepare and submit a final report that contains a detailed statement of findings, conclusions and recommendations of the task force to the Legislature, the Governor and to local and tribal governments by December 31, 2016. It is the intention of the Legislature that, given the importance of the matters before the task force, the task force should work toward unanimously supported findings and recommendations and the task force shall state the vote total for each recommendation contained in its report to the Legislature. The report submitted under this subsection shall be made available to the public.

The recommendations for improving the mental health system in Mississippi may include proposals for specific statutory changes for improving the effectiveness mental health care and methods to foster cooperation among state agencies and health care providers. The task force shall be abolished upon submission of the report to the Governor and the Legislature.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.