SB-0692, As Passed House, June 2, 2016
January 13, 2016, Introduced by Senators ZORN, O'BRIEN, KNOLLENBERG, WARREN, GREGORY, JOHNSON, HERTEL, BIEDA, HOOD, KNEZEK, HUNE, SMITH, SCHUITMAKER, PAVLOV, BOOHER and EMMONS and referred to the Committee on Health Policy.
A bill to amend 1974 PA 258, entitled
"Mental health code,"
by amending section 939 (MCL 330.1939), as amended by 1990 PA 263.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 939. (1) The state mental health advisory council on
deafness is created in the department as a successor to the mental
health advisory council on the deaf, deafblind, and hard of
hearing. impaired.
The council shall consist of 12 members
appointed by the governor. At least 4 members shall be deaf persons
as
defined in section 2 of Act No. 204 of the Public Acts of 1982,
being
section 393.502 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. the deaf
persons' interpreters act, 1982 PA 204, MCL 393.502. The remaining
members shall be persons knowledgeable in the area of deafness,
mental health, or both. The members shall be appointed for 2-year
terms beginning on April 1, except that in the first year, 6
members shall be appointed for a 1-year term, and 6 members shall
be appointed for a 2-year term. A vacancy on the council shall be
filled for the balance of the unexpired term in the same manner as
the original appointment.
(2) The state mental health advisory council on deafness shall
advise and assist the director of the department on mental health
services, policies, and programs for the deaf, deafblind, and hard
of
hearing. impaired. The
council shall be is responsible for all
of the following:
(a) Identifying and assessing current needs of deaf,
deafblind, and hard
of hearing impaired persons with
mental health
problems.
(b) Monitoring mental health program delivery to deaf,
deafblind, and hard
of hearing impaired persons.
(c) Recommending programs, policy development, and training
that shall ensure quality service delivery of specialized mental
health services to meet the needs of deaf, deafblind, and hard of
hearing
impaired persons.
(3) The state mental health advisory council on deafness shall
report its findings and recommendations at least annually to the
department, citizens mental health advisory council, the governor,
and the house and senate appropriations committees.
(4) The members of the state mental health advisory council on
deafness shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed
for actual and necessary expenses by the department.
(5) The first meeting each year of the state mental health
advisory council on deafness shall be called by a majority of the
members at which time a chairperson shall be elected. The council
shall meet at least 4 times a year and at the call of the
chairperson.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days
after the date it is enacted into law.