Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 319i - Persons with Psychiatric Disabilities
Section 17a-456. (Formerly Sec. 17-207). - Board of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

(a) On and before October 1, 2022, there shall be a Board of Mental Health and Addiction Services that shall consist of: (1) Nineteen members appointed by the Governor, subject to the provisions of section 4-9a, five of whom shall have had experience in the field of substance use disorders, five of whom shall be from the mental health community, three of whom shall be physicians licensed to practice medicine in this state who have had experience in the field of psychiatry, two of whom shall be psychologists licensed to practice in this state, two of whom shall be persons representing families of individuals with behavioral health disorders, and two of whom shall be persons representing families of individuals recovering from substance use disorders; (2) the chairmen of the regional mental health boards; (3) one designee of each such board; (4) two designees from each of the five subregions represented by the substance abuse subregional planning and action councils; (5) one designee from each mental health region established pursuant to section 17a-478, each of whom shall represent individuals with psychiatric disabilities, selected by such regional mental health boards in collaboration with advocacy groups; and (6) one designee from each of the five subregions represented by such substance abuse subregional planning and action councils, each of whom shall represent individuals recovering from substance use disorders, selected by such substance abuse subregional planning and action councils in collaboration with advocacy groups. The members of the board shall serve without compensation except for necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties. The members of the board may include representatives of nongovernment organizations or groups, and of state agencies, concerned with planning, operation or utilization of facilities providing mental health and substance use disorder services, including consumers and providers of such services who are familiar with the need for such services, except that no more than half of the members of the board shall be providers of such services. Appointed members shall serve on the board for terms of four years each and members who are designees shall serve on the board at the pleasure of the designating authority. No appointed member of the board shall be employed by the state or be a member of the staff of any institution for which such member's compensation is paid wholly by the state. A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum.

(b) On and after October 1, 2022, there shall be a Board of Mental Health and Addiction Services that shall consist of (1) nineteen members appointed by the Governor, subject to the provisions of section 4-9a, five of whom shall have lived experience with substance use disorders, five of whom shall have lived experience with a mental health diagnosis, five of whom shall be behavioral health practitioners licensed to practice in the state, two of whom shall be persons representing families of individuals with behavioral health disorders, and two of whom shall be persons representing families of individuals recovering from substance use disorders; and (2) five members appointed by the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, each of whom shall represent a regional behavioral health action organization described in section 17a-484f. The Governor shall appoint a chairperson from among the members of the board. The members of the board shall serve without compensation except for necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties. The members of the board may include representatives of nongovernment organizations or groups, and of state agencies, concerned with planning, operation or utilization of facilities providing mental health and substance use disorder services, including consumers and providers of such services who are familiar with the need for such services, except that no more than half of the members of the board shall be providers of such services. Members shall serve on the board for terms of four years. No member of the board shall be employed by the state or be a member of the staff of any institution for which such member's compensation is paid wholly by the state. A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum.
(1953, S. 1524d; 1957, P.A. 73; 650, S. 21; 652, S. 2; 1969, P.A. 212; 1972, P.A. 145, S. 5; P.A. 76-339, S. 4, 5; P.A. 81-473, S. 40, 43; P.A. 95-257, S. 13, 58; P.A. 00-101; P.A. 12-143, S. 8; P.A. 14-138, S. 6; P.A. 16-130, S. 1; P.A. 22-69, S. 4.)
History: 1969 act increased number of members from 7 to 9, added appointment provisions and established 4-year terms; 1972 act limited number of terms members allowed to serve; P.A. 76-339 included as board member the chairmen of the regional mental health boards; P.A. 81-473 increased membership of board from 13 to 20 and conformed board make-up to federal requirements for a mental health advisory body; Sec. 17-207 transferred to Sec. 17a-456 in 1991; P.A. 95-257 increased membership from 10 to 15, specified 5 with substance abuse experience and 5 from mental health community, added Subsec. (a)(4) re additional designees, changed the name of the board by adding “addiction services” and added Subsec. (b) re substitution of the new name, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 00-101 amended Subsec. (a) by increasing the number of board members, adding provisions in Subdivs. (1) and (4) and new Subdivs. (5) and (6) specifying the additional appointees and designees, changing from mandatory to discretionary a provision re certain representatives included as board members, adding provisions re service of appointed members and members who are designees, and making conforming and technical changes; P.A. 12-143 deleted Subsec. (a) designator and deleted former Subsec. (b) re term “Board of Mental Health”, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 14-138 deleted provision re appointed member terms; P.A. 16-130 amended Subdivs. (1) and (6) by replacing “substance abuse problems” with “substance use disorders”; P.A. 22-69 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same by making provisions applicable on and before October 1, 2022, replacing “substance abuse” with “substance use disorders”, replacing “psychiatric disabilities” with “behavioral health disorders”, deleting references to Secs. 17a-484 and 17a-671 and making technical changes and added Subsec. (b) re board on and after October 1, 2022.

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