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OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6729
AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
AND ADDICTION SERVICES' RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING
THE MEMBERSHIP OF VARIOUS ADVISORY BOARDS AND
COUNCILS.
SUMMARY
By law, “state-operated facilities” are hospitals and facilities the
Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS)
operates in whole or part that provide treatment for people with
psychiatric disabilities, substance use disorders, or both (CGS § 17a-458)
(see BACKGROUND).
This bill requires all state-operated facilities to have an advisory
board that includes members with lived experience with behavioral
health disorders. The bill eliminates the Connecticut Mental Health
Center (CMHC) Advisory Board and instead subjects the center to its
advisory board requirements for all other state-operated facilities. The
bill also requires the existing Connecticut Valley Hospital Advisory
Council to include, on and after January 1, 2024, at least two members
appointed by the DMHAS commissioner with lived experience with
behavioral health disorders.
Under current law, the DMHAS commissioner appoints six members
of the 13-member Connecticut Valley Hospital Advisory Council.
Existing law, unchanged by the bill, requires the council to advise
DMHAS on topics such as building use, security, and clients residing at
the facility and their discharge.
Lastly, the bill makes technical and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage, except the advisory board
requirements for state-operated facilities are effective October 1, 2023. 2023HB-06729-R000455-BA.DOCX
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ADVISORY BOARDS FOR STATE-OPERATED FACILITIES
Current law allows (1) state-operated facilities to have an advisory
board and (2) the superintendents or directors of these facilities to, in
accordance with certain statutory requirements, appoint the board and
set terms for members. The bill instead requires (1) facilities to have
these advisory boards and (2) superintendents or directors to appoint
members that include people with lived experience with behavioral
health disorders.
Under current law, CMHC is not allowed to have a superintendent-
or director-appointed advisory board and instead has a nine-member
CMHC Advisory Board that the DMHAS commissioner appoints (see
BACKGROUND) . The bill eliminates this CMHC Advisory Board and
subjects the center to the advisory board requirements for state-
operated facilities discussed above.
BACKGROUND
State-Operated Facilities and Advisory Boards
By law, state-operated facilities generally include, but are not limited
to, the Capitol Region Mental Health Center, the Connecticut Valley
Hospital (including its Addictions and General Psychiatric divisions),
the Whiting Forensic Hospital, the Connecticut Mental Health Center,
the Franklin S. DuBois Center, the Greater Bridgeport Community
Mental Health Center, and River Valley Services (CGS § 17a-458).
An advisory board is required to (1) periodically meet with the
facility superintendent or director to advise on the facility’s programs
and policies; (2) act as a liaison between the facility and residents of its
assigned geographic area; and (3) issue reports to the governor and
DMHAS commissioner on facility conditions and recommendations for
changes or improvements (CGS § 17a-471).
Connecticut Mental Health Center Advisory Board
CMHC is a community mental health center that DMHAS operates
in collaboration with the Yale Department of Psychiatry. Under current
law, the CMHC Advisory Board is composed of nine members the
DMHAS commissioner appoints. Of these appointments, two each must 2023HB-06729-R000455-BA.DOCX
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be nominated by the Yale-New Haven Health System and Yale
University. The advisory board is tasked with advising and assisting the
health center’s director and may recommend policies and practices.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Health Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 37 Nay 0 (03/20/2023)