House Bill 616

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-4-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR SHALL APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE STATE BOARD OF MENTAL HEALTH TO REPRESENT THE REGIONAL MENTAL HEALTH/INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY CENTERS AT THE EXPIRATION OF THE TERMS OF THE BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED FROM CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE IN 2011 AND 2012; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 41-4-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

41-4-3. (1) There is created a State Board of Mental Health, referred to in this chapter as "board," consisting of nine (9) members, to be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, each of whom shall be a qualified elector. One (1) member shall be appointed from each congressional district as presently constituted; and four (4) members shall be appointed from the state at large, one (1) of whom shall be a licensed medical doctor who is a psychiatrist, one (1) of whom shall hold a Ph.D. degree and be a licensed clinical psychologist, one (1) of whom shall be a licensed medical doctor, and one (1) of whom shall be a social worker with experience in the mental health field.

No more than two (2) members of the board shall be appointed from any one (1) congressional district as presently constituted.

Each member of the initial board shall serve for a term of years represented by the number of his congressional district; two (2) state at large members shall serve for a term of six (6) years; two (2) state at large members shall serve for a term of seven (7) years; subsequent appointments shall be for seven-year terms and the Governor shall fill any vacancy for the unexpired term.

At the expiration of the term of the member appointed from the second congressional district in 2011, and at the expiration of the term of the member appointed from the third congressional district in 2012, the Governor shall appoint members to represent the regional mental health/intellectual disability centers established under Sections 41-19-31 through 41-19-39 for terms of seven (7) years from the expiration date of the previous term.

The board shall elect a chairman whose term of office shall be one (1) year and until his successor shall be elected.

(2) Each board member shall be entitled to a per diem as is authorized by law and all actual and necessary expenses, including mileage as provided by law, incurred in the discharge of official duties.

(3) The board shall hold regular meetings quarterly and such special meetings deemed necessary, except that no action shall be taken unless there is present a quorum of at least five (5) members.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2011.