The Behavioral Health Advisory Board is established under the authority of Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5604.
(prior code § 3.41.010; Ord. 2235, 1976; Ord. 4231 § 1, 1992; Ord. 5279 § 15, 2018; Ord. 5481 § 2, 2025)
The Board shall consist of 13 members who are residents of the County, appointed as follows:
(A)
Each Supervisor shall nominate two persons who may reside within the Supervisor's district. Two transitional age youth shall also be appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Of the 12 persons so appointed by the Board of Supervisors, the appointed Board membership shall consist of the following:
(1)
At least seven shall be consumers, or the parents, spouses, siblings, or adult children of consumers, who are receiving or have received behavioral health services;
(2)
At least three of the members appointed shall be consumers who are receiving or have received behavioral health services;
(3)
At least three of the members appointed shall be a parent, spouse, sibling, or adult child of consumers who are receiving or have received behavioral health services;
(4)
At least one member so appointed shall also be an employee of a local education agency;
(5)
At least one member so appointed shall also be a veteran or veteran advocate; and
(6)
The remaining members appointed by the Board of Supervisors shall be persons with experience and knowledge of the behavioral health system.
(B)
One member of the Board shall be a member of the Board of Supervisors.
(C)
(1)
Except as provided in subsection (C)(2) of this section, no member of the Behavioral Health Advisory Board, or the spouse of that person, shall be a full-time or part-time employee of a County behavioral health service facility, an employee of the State Department of Health Care Services, or an employee of, or a paid member of, the governing body of a Bronzan-McCorquodale contract facility.
(2)
A consumer of behavioral health services who has obtained employment with an employer described in subsection (C)(1) of this section and who holds a position in which that person does not have any interest, influence, or authority over any financial or contractual matter concerning the employer may be appointed to the Behavioral Health Advisory Board. The member shall abstain from voting on any financial or contractual issue concerning that member's employer that may come before the Behavioral Health Advisory Board.
(D)
The composition of the Board should reflect the ethnic diversity of the client population in the County to the extent possible.
(prior code § 3.41.030; Ord. 2235, 1976; Ord. 2357, 1976; Ord. 2636, 1979; Ord. 3620 § 23, 1985; Ord. 3723 § 1, 1986; Ord. 3822 §§ 1, 2, 1987; Ord. 4191 § 1, 1992; Ord. 4231 § 1, 1992; Ord. 5213 § 1, 2015; Ord. 5279 § 15, 2018; Ord. 5481 § 3, 2025)
Each member shall serve a term of three years. Per Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5604, the Board of Supervisors shall equitably stagger the appointments so that approximately one-third of the appointments expire in each year.
(prior code § 3.41.040; Ord. 2235, 1976; Ord. 2357, 1976; Ord. 4231 § 1, 1992; Ord. 5279 § 15, 2018)
(B)
Quorum. The quorum for the Board shall be one person more than one-half of the appointed members.
(C)
Staff Support. The County Health Services Agency shall provide staff support for the Board. The Director of the Health Services Agency, or a designated representative, shall serve as Administrative Secretary to the Board. The Administrative Secretary shall receive copies of all reports and recommendations prepared by the Board, prepare and mail agendas, take minutes of each meeting, and perform other duties as directed by the Board.
(prior code § 3.41.050; Ord. 2235, 1976; Ord. 4191 § 2, 1992; Ord. 4231 § 1, 1992; Ord. 5279 § 15, 2018; Ord. 5481 § 4, 2025)
The Board shall exercise the following responsibilities pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5604.2 in its efforts to obtain the highest quality and most effective behavioral health services and substance use disorder treatment system for the County:
(A)
Review and evaluate the community's public behavioral health needs, services, facilities, and special problems in any facility within the County where mental health or substance use disorder evaluations or services are being provided, including, but not limited to, schools, emergency departments, and psychiatric facilities.
(C)
Advise the Board of Supervisors and the local behavioral health director as to any aspect of the local behavioral health program.
(1)
The Board may request assistance from the local patients' rights advocates when reviewing and advising on mental health or substance use disorder evaluations or services provided in public facilities with limited access.
(D)
Review and approve the procedures used to ensure citizen and professional involvement at all stages of the planning process.
(1)
Involvement shall include individuals with lived experience of mental illness, substance use disorder, or both, and their families, community members, advocacy organizations, and behavioral health professionals. It shall also include other professionals who interact with individuals living with mental illnesses or substance use disorders on a daily basis, such as education, emergency services, employment, health care, housing, public safety, local business owners, social services, older adults, transportation, and veterans.
(E)
Submit an annual report to the Board of Supervisors on the needs and performance of the County's behavioral health system.
(F)
Review and make recommendations on applications for the appointment of a local director of behavioral health services. The Board shall be included in the selection process prior to the vote of the Board of Supervisors.
(G)
Review and comment on the County's performance outcome data and communicate its findings to the California Behavioral Health Planning Council.
(H)
Assess the impact of the realignment of services from the State to the County on services delivered to clients and on the local community.
(prior code § 3.41.020; Ord. 2235, 1976; Ord. 3723 § 2, 1986; Ord. 4231 § 1, 1992; Ord. 5279 § 15, 2018; Ord. 5481 § 5, 2025)