California Mental Health
Planning Council
Excerpt From The Welfare and Institutions Code
5771.
- Pursuant to Public Law 102-321, there is the California
Mental Health Planning Council. The purpose of the
planning council shall be to fulfill those mental
health planning requirements mandated by federal law.
- The planning council shall have 40 members,
to be comprised of members appointed from both
the local and state levels in order to ensure
a balance of state and local concerns relative
to planning.
- As required by federal law, eight members of
the planning council shall represent various state
departments.
- Members of the planning council shall be appointed
in such a manner as to ensure that at least one-half
are persons with mental disabilities, family members
of persons with mental disabilities, and representatives
of organizations advocating on behalf of persons
with mental disabilities. Persons with mental
disabilities and family members shall be represented
in equal numbers.
- The Director of Mental Health shall make appointments
from nominees from mental health constituency
organizations, which shall include representatives
of consumer-related advocacy organizations, representatives
of mental health professional and provider organizations,
and one representative of the California Coalition
on Mental Health.
- The planning council shall have 40 members,
to be comprised of members appointed from both
the local and state levels in order to ensure
a balance of state and local concerns relative
to planning.
- Members should be balanced according to demography,
geography, gender, and ethnicity. Members should include
representatives with interest in all target populations,
including, but not limited to, children and youth,
adults, and older adults.
- The planning council shall annually elect a chairperson
and a vice chairperson.
- The term of each member shall be three years, to
be staggered so that approximately one-third of the
appointments expire in each year.
- In the event of changes in the federal requirements regarding the structure and function of the planning council, or the discontinuation of federal funding, the State Department of Mental Health shall propose to the Legislature modifications in the structure of the planning council that the department deems appropriate.
5771.3.
The California Mental Health Planning Council may utilize staff of the State Department of Mental Health, to the extent they are available, and the staff of any other public or private agencies that have an interest in the mental health of the public and that are able and willing to provide those services.
5771.5.
- The Chairperson of the California Mental Health
Planning Council, with the concurrence of a majority
of the members of the California Mental Health
Planning Council, shall appoint an executive officer
who shall have those powers delegated to him or
her by the council in accordance with this chapter.
- The executive officer shall be exempt from
civil service.
- The Chairperson of the California Mental Health
Planning Council, with the concurrence of a majority
of the members of the California Mental Health
Planning Council, shall appoint an executive officer
who shall have those powers delegated to him or
her by the council in accordance with this chapter.
- Within the limit of funds allotted for these purposes, the California Mental Health Planning Council may appoint other staff it may require according to the rules and procedures of the civil service system.
5772.
The California Mental Health Planning Council shall have the powers and authority necessary to carry out the duties imposed upon it by this chapter, including, but not limited to, the following:
- To advocate for effective, quality mental health
programs.
- To review, assess, and make recommendations regarding
all components of California's mental health system,
and to report as necessary to the Legislature, the
State Department of Mental Health, local boards, and
local programs.
- To review program performance in delivering mental
health services by annually reviewing performance
outcome data as follows:
- To review and approve the performance outcome
measures.
- To review the performance of mental health
programs based on performance outcome data and
other reports from the State Department of Mental
Health and other sources.
- To report findings and recommendations on programs'
performance annually to the Legislature, the State
Department of Mental Health, and the local boards.
- To identify successful programs for recommendation
and for consideration of replication in other
areas. As data and technology are available, identify
programs experiencing difficulties.
- To review and approve the performance outcome
measures.
- When appropriate, make a finding pursuant to Section
5655 that a county's performance is failing in a substantive
manner. The State Department of Mental Health shall
investigate and review the finding, and report the
action taken to the Legislature.
- To advise the Legislature, the State Department
of Mental Health, and county boards on mental health
issues and the policies and priorities that this state
should be pursuing in developing its mental health
system.
- To periodically review the state's data systems
and paperwork requirements to ensure that they are
reasonable and in compliance with state and federal
law.
- To make recommendations to the State Department
of Mental Health on the award of grants to county
programs to reward and stimulate innovation in providing
mental health services.
- To conduct public hearings on the state mental
health plan, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration block grant, and other topics,
as needed.
- To participate in the recruitment of candidates
for the position of Director of Mental Health and
provide advice on the final selection.
- In conjunction with other statewide and local mental
health organizations, assist in the coordination of
training and information to local mental health boards
as needed to ensure that they can effectively carry
out their duties.
- To advise the Director of Mental Health on the
development of the state mental health plan and the
system of priorities contained in that plan.
- To assess periodically the effect of realignment
of mental health services and any other important
changes in the state's mental health system, and to
report its findings to the Legislature, the State
Department of Mental Health, local programs, and local
boards, as appropriate.
- To suggest rules, regulations, and standards for
the administration of this division.
- When requested, to mediate disputes between counties
and the state arising under this part.
- To employ administrative, technical, and other
personnel necessary for the performance of its powers
and duties, subject to the approval of the Department
of Finance.
- To accept any federal fund granted, by act of Congress
or by executive order, for purposes within the purview
of the California Mental Health Planning Council,
subject to the approval of the Department of Finance.
- To accept any gift, donation, bequest, or grants of funds from private and public agencies for all or any of the purposes within the purview of the California Mental Health Planning Council, subject to the approval of the Department of Finance.

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