Section 10-309 - Membership.
§ 10-309. Membership.
(a) In general.-
(1) The mental health advisory committee of each county shall consist of:
(i) As nonvoting ex officio members, the following individuals or their designees:
1. The health officer for the county;
2. A representative of a State inpatient facility that serves that county, appointed as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection;
3. The county mental health director;
4. The director of the core service agency, if any; and
5. In jurisdictions with designated State inpatient beds located in local general hospitals, a representative from that facility; and
(ii) As voting members, appointed by the governing body of the county and representative of the county's major socio-economic and ethnic groups:
1. At least 5, but not more than 7, representatives selected from among the following groups or agencies:
A. The governing body;
B. The county department of education;
C. The local department of social services;
D. The practicing physicians;
E. Mental health professionals who are not physicians;
F. The clergy;
G. The legal profession;
H. A local law enforcement agency;
I. A local general hospital that contains an inpatient psychiatric unit;
J. The Department of Aging;
K. The Department of Juvenile Services;
L. The local alcohol and drug abuse agency; and
M. A local community rehabilitation or housing program; and
2. At least 5 individuals selected from among the following groups or organizations and appointed as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection:
A. At least 2 individuals who are currently receiving or who have in the past received mental health services;
B. Parents or other relatives of adults with mental disorders;
C. Parents or other relatives of children or adolescents with emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders the onset of which occurred during childhood or adolescence;
D. The local mental health association, if any; and
E. A member of the general public.
(2) If more than one State inpatient facility serves a county, a representative from at least 1 of the facilities shall be appointed by the Director.
(3) At least one-half of the voting members shall be appointed from among the individuals listed in paragraph (1)(ii)2A through C of this subsection.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subsection, if the governing body of Baltimore City or Anne Arundel County designates a core service agency as the mental health advisory committee, the mental health advisory committee shall consist of the governing body of the core service agency.
(b) Intercounty advisory committees.- If an intercounty advisory committee is established, the governing body of each participating county shall appoint at least 4 members of the committee.
(c) Joint mental health and addictions advisory committees.- Notwithstanding subsection (a)(1)(ii) of this section, if the governing body of a county establishes a joint mental health and addictions advisory committee, the governing body may appoint any additional members as necessary to advise and advocate about addictions issues.
(d) Tenure of appointees; vacancies.-
(1) The term of an appointed member is 3 years and begins on July 1.
(2) The terms of one-third of the appointed members of each county advisory committee or intercounty advisory committee end each year.
(3) At the end of a term, a member may continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
(4) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
(5) A member who serves 2 consecutive full 3-year terms may not be reappointed for 2 years after completion of those terms.
[An. Code 1957, art. 43, § 1J; 1982, ch. 21, § 2; 1991, ch. 176; 1992, ch. 22, § 1; ch. 430; 1995, ch. 8, § 4; 1997, ch. 325; 1998, ch. 573, § 5; ch. 574, § 5; 2000, ch. 61, § 1; 2003, ch. 53, § 6; 2005, ch. 376; 2007, ch. 272.]