Analyst: ME Page 1 5/24/23
OFA Bill Analysis
sHB 6900 (as amended by House "A")*
AN ACT CONCERNING THE TRANSFORMING CHILDREN'S
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH POLICY AND PLANNING COMMITTEE.
SUMMARY:
The bill makes various changes regarding the Behavioral and Mental
Health Policy and Oversight Committee, including 1) changing the
name 2) changing the number of committee members and 3) changing
reporting dates.
*House Amendment "A" (1) changes the effective date to effective
from passage and (2) changes the deadline for when the committee must
hold its first meeting from July 1, 2023 to September 1, 2023.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Effective from passage
Committee Changes
The bill changes the name of the committee to Transforming
Children's Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee and
defines behavioral health as mental health and substance use disorders,
as well as overall psychological well-being.
The bill requires the speaker of the House and the president pro
tempore of the Senate to each select one chairperson and increases the
number of committee members by four:
1. Two appointed by the chairperson of the committee selected by the
speaker of the House of Representatives, with one who is a child or
youth advocate.
2. Two appointed by the chairperson of the committee selected by the
president pro tempore of the Senate, with one who is a child or youth
advocate. 2023HB-06900-R000830-BA.DOCX
Analyst: ME Page 2 5/24/23
The bill specifies that the committee will hold its first meeting by
September 1, 2023, and changes its initial reporting deadline to
December 1, 2023, and its final reporting deadline to December 1, 2024.
The bill makes various changes to the reporting requirements of the
committee:
1. Includes urban, rural, and other areas of the state in the
governance structure for the children's behavioral health
system.
2. Allows instead of requiring the committee to consult with
certain children's behavioral health organizations, to include
two or more subcommittees chaired by a member of the
committee to inform its recommendations, and collaborate
with certain state agencies.
3. Removes the requirement that the committee shall work with
a results-first initiative.
4. Allows instead of requiring the committee to include two or
more subcommittees chaired by a member of the committee to
inform its recommendations.
5. Requires the committee to annually establish a work plan.
The bill also makes various minor and technical changes.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Appropriations Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 52 Nay 0 Absent/Not Voting 1