GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

S	2 

SENATE BILL 249
Second Edition Engrossed 6/8/95

Short Title:  Mental Health Study Commission.	(Public)

─────────────────────────────────────── 
Sponsors: Senator Conder.

─────────────────────────────────────── 
Referred to:  Appropriations.

─────────────────────────────────────── 

February 23, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO REAUTHORIZE THE MENTAL HEALTH STUDY COMMISSION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The Mental Health Study Commission, established and structured by 1973 General Assembly Resolution 80; Chapter 806, 1973 Session Laws; Chapter 185, 1975 Session Laws; Chapter 184, 1977 Session Laws; Chapter 215, 1979 Session Laws; 1979 General Assembly Resolution 20; Chapter 49, 1981 Session Laws; Chapter 268, 1983 Session Laws; Chapter 792, 1985 Session Laws; Chapter 873, 1987 Session Laws; Chapter 802, 1989 Session Laws; Chapter 754, 1991 Session Laws; and Chapter 771, 1993 Session Laws, Regular Session 1994, is reestablished and authorized to continue in existence until July 1, 1997.
Sec. 2.  (a) The Commission shall consist of 25 members as follows:
(1)	The Secretary of the Department of Human Resources or a delegate, serving ex officio as a nonvoting member;
(2)	Eight members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, seven of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives at the time of their appointment.  One of these seven shall be a Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Human Resources, and one shall be a Chair of a standing House committee that deals with mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse issues;
(3)	Eight members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, seven of whom shall be members of the Senate at the time of their appointment.  One of these seven shall be Chair of the Senate Human Resources Appropriations Committee and one shall be Chair of a standing Senate committee that deals with mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse issues; and
(4)	Eight members appointed by the Governor, two of whom shall be county commissioners at the time of their appointment, taken from a list of four candidates nominated by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners.  If the Association has failed to make nominations by September 1, 1995, the Governor may appoint any two county commissioners.
(b) Members and staff of the continued Mental Health Study Commission shall receive compensation and expenses delineated by the original authorization in the 1973 General Assembly Resolution 80.  Expenses of the Commission shall be expended by the Department of Human Resources from Budget Code 14460 subhead 1110.
Sec. 3.  The continued Mental Health Study Commission has all the powers and duties of the original Commission as they are necessary to continue the original study, to assist in the implementation of the original and succeeding Commission recommendations, and to plan future activity on the subject of the study.  In addition to other studies authorized by law, the Commission shall:
(1)	Conduct research and develop recommendations regarding the response of the public system to the changing health care environment which recommendations shall include recommendations on issues of governance, accountability, data collection, and collaboration between public and private sectors;
(2)	Analyze and develop recommendations regarding the current system of funding services to evaluate maximum use of funds;
(3)	Oversee the Mental Health Study Commission ten-year Disability Plans that have been endorsed by the General Assembly;
(4)	Evaluate quality improvement initiatives and develop recommendations regarding accountability, performance standards, and client outcomes;
(5)	Monitor and evaluate the new initiatives, including crisis services, Carolina Alternatives, and domiciliary care, developed by the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, to consider whether to recommend their possible expansion;
(6)	Review major initiatives for children for integration with the Child Mental Health Plan;
(7)	Develop a business initiative to increase public/private partnerships to enhance current services for those individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse problems; and
(8)	Carry out any other evaluations the Commission considers necessary to perform its mandate.
Sec. 4.  The Mental Health Study Commission shall make a report to the 1997 General Assembly, including any legislative proposals, by March 15, 1997.
Sec. 5.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1995.