House Bill 1270

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-19-35, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE MEMBERSHIP OF CERTAIN REGIONAL MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 41-19-35, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

41-19-35. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) and (3), except as otherwise provided in this section, the board of supervisors of each participating county in the program shall appoint one (1) member to represent its county on the regional commission in its respective region for a term of four (4) years who shall serve at the will and pleasure of the appointing board of supervisors, who may be a clerk, sheriff or deputy. In addition, the chancery clerks of the counties in each region shall select a chancery clerk or a deputy clerk to serve as a nonvoting liaison to the commission, and the sheriffs of the counties in each region shall select a sheriff or a deputy sheriff to serve as a nonvoting liaison to the commission. Any compensation of such members shall be paid by the regional commission, in its discretion, from any funds available. Each member of the commission shall attend the orientation training for new commissioners and the annual training for all commissioners held by the Department of Mental Health. The Department of Mental Health shall notify the board of supervisors when a commissioner does not attend either the orientation training or annual training. Upon notice from the Department of Mental Health that a commissioner has failed to attend the required meetings, the appointing board of supervisors shall remove the commissioner, unless the department and the commission agree to an alternate arrangement to allow the commissioner to continue to serve until the next opportunity to attend the orientation meeting and/or the annual training.

(2) Beginning on July 1, 2024, each regional commission consisting of only two (2) counties that border the State of Alabama shall be comprised of five (5) members. The board of supervisors of each participating county described in this subsection shall appoint two (2) members to represent its respective county on the commission, and an additional member shall be appointed by the board of supervisors of the county having the largest population according to the latest federal decennial census. Appointees to the regional commission under this subsection shall serve for a term of four (4) years. Any compensation of such members shall be paid by the regional commission, in its discretion, from any available funds.

(3) Beginning on July 1, 2024, each regional commission consisting of only one (1) county that borders the State of Alabama shall be comprised of up to five (5) members. The board of supervisors of the participating county described in this subsection shall appoint members to the commission. Appointees to the regional commission under this subsection shall serve for a term of four (4) years. Any compensation of such members shall be paid by the regional commission, in its discretion, from any available funds.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.