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OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6729 (as amended by House "A")*
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 that 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, rather than allows, all state-operated facilities to
have an advisory board. Under current law, facilities with advisory
boards must have their superintendent or director make member
appointments. The bill requires these appointing authorities to appoint
at least two members with lived experience with behavioral health
disorders to their respective boards.
The bill also eliminates the advisory board to the Connecticut Mental
Health Center (CMHC), a community mental health center that
DMHAS operates in collaboration with the Yale Department of
Psychiatry. 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. Of these appointments, two each must be nominated by the
Yale-New Haven Health System and Yale University. The bill instead
subjects the center to its advisory board requirements for all other state-
operated facilities.
The bill also (1) expands the existing Connecticut Valley Hospital
Advisory Council from 13 to 15 members and (2) requires it to include,
on and after January 1, 2024, at least two members appointed by the 2023HB-06729-R01-BA.DOCX
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DMHAS commissioner with lived experience with behavioral health
disorders. Under current law, the DMHAS commissioner appoints six
members of the council; the bill correspondingly increases her number
of appointments to eight. 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.
*House Amendment "A" (1) specifies that at least two members of
state-operated facilities’ advisory boards must be people with lived
experience with behavioral health disorders and (2) increases the
Connecticut Valley Hospital Advisory Council’s membership.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage, except the advisory board
requirements for state-operated facilities are effective October 1, 2023.
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).
COMMITTEE ACTION
Public Health Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 37 Nay 0 (03/20/2023) 2023HB-06729-R01-BA.DOCX
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