COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Board of Supervisors

 

DATE:

September 20, 2010

BOARD MEETING DATE:

September 28, 2010

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Supervisor Rich Gordon

SUBJECT:

San Mateo County Mental Health & Substance Abuse Recovery Commission

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution renaming and reformatting the Mental Health Board as the “Mental Health And Substance Abuse Recovery Commission”, specifying the standing rules for its governance, and approving its bylaws.

 

BACKGROUND:

Pursuant to state law, the Board of Supervisors established a community mental health service program. State law also requires the establishment of a Mental Health Board with a set membership who are appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The Mental Health Board is required to develop bylaws that are approved by the Board of Supervisors that establish the specific number of members, ensure that the composition represents the demographics of the county, establishes that a quorum be one person more than one-half of the appointed members, establish that the chairperson be in consultation with the local Mental Health Director, and establish that there may be an executive committee of the mental health board.

 

DISCUSSION:

The existing Mental Health Board developed recommendations for a change in their name, composition and purpose following the merger of the Alcohol and Other Drug Services Division of the Human Services Agency and the Mental Health Services Division of the Health System into a single new Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Division of the Health System. Since the merger, the Mental Health Board and the new Division have seen the value of expanding the Board's composition and purpose to reflect the Division's responsibility for a broad range of mental health, alcohol and drug, and co-occurring problems. The proposed change will not affect the Mental Health Board’s ability to perform its statutory requirements. The County does not currently have a Drug and Alcohol advisory Board. Approval of this resolution will expand the Mental Health Board’s purview to advise on alcohol and drug and co-occurring problems.

 

Approval of this resolution will contribute to the 2025 outcome of Collaborative Community by increasing the ability of the Commission to serve the diverse needs of its clients.

 

This Board memo, resolution and accompanying by-laws have been approved by County Counsel.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no net County cost to changing the composition and duties of the Mental Health Board to the San Mateo County Mental Health & Substance Abuse Recovery Commission.