Act No. 239

Public Acts of 2016

Approved by the Governor

June 23, 2016

Filed with the Secretary of State

June 24, 2016

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 22, 2016

STATE OF MICHIGAN

98TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2016

Introduced by Senators Zorn, O’Brien, Knollenberg, Warren, Gregory, Johnson, Hertel, Bieda, Hood, Knezek, Hune, Smith, Schuitmaker, Pavlov, Booher and Emmons

ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 692

AN ACT to amend 1974 PA 258, entitled “An act to codify, revise, consolidate, and classify the laws relating to mental health; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local agencies and officials and certain private agencies and individuals; to regulate certain agencies and facilities providing mental health or substance use disorder services; to provide for certain charges and fees; to establish civil admission procedures for individuals with mental illness, substance use disorder, or developmental disability; to establish guardianship procedures for individuals with developmental disability; to establish procedures regarding individuals with mental illness, substance use disorder, or developmental disability who are in the criminal justice system; to provide for penalties and remedies; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,” 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. 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 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. The council is responsible for all of the following:

(a) Identifying and assessing current needs of deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing persons with mental health problems.

(b) Monitoring mental health program delivery to deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing 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 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.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Secretary of the Senate

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Approved

Governor