Committee gives favorable report to bill changing governance and meeting rules for local mental‑health boards

Vice Chairman Representative Betzel presented House Bill 425, which makes several changes to governance of local ‘‘3‑10’’ mental‑health boards that oversee community mental‑health authorities. Betzel said the bill would require that, for boards with 16 or more members that maintain an executive committee, the executive committee include a probate judge and a sheriff (or the sheriff's designee) to support continuity of care with the court and law enforcement.

"Anytime there's an executive committee on a 3 10 board, this bill would say there needs to be a representative of a probate judge on the executive committee, and then a sheriff or their designee on the committee to ensure that that whole continuity of care that exists in the mental health world is in place," Betzel said.

The bill would also permit virtual participation by board members in conformity with the state's Open Meetings Act and insert diversity requirements for board composition, the sponsor said. Betzel indicated further floor amendments are likely to align the virtual‑attendance language more closely to existing law.

Representative Lance, who said he has experience in community mental health, asked whether the bill was driven by documented problems. Betzel answered that some boards have not been efficient and that mandated representation brings stakeholders to the table: "If you have a situation where the the sheriff or the county or the probate judge doesn't feel like it's operating the way it should, now we've brought them to the table and they're a part of the conversation."

Outcome: The committee moved and seconded the bill and approved it by voice vote; the clerk recorded one member as opposed. The sponsor said a floor amendment may be filed to refine the Open Meetings language.