Senate Bill 1023 Summary

• Changes Chapter 31, Title 39 heading from "Regional Mental Health Services" to "Regional Behavioral Health Services" to reflect integrated approach to mental health and substance use disorder treatment.

• Establishes state behavioral health authority designation for the Department of Health and Welfare responsible for both mental health and substance use disorder services statewide.

• Creates regional behavioral health boards in each department region with 21 members including consumers, family members, providers, and representatives from education, criminal justice, and healthcare sectors.

• Expands behavioral health services to include evaluation and intervention for emergencies, treatment for individuals in mental health courts, intensive outpatient services, case management, residential care, and community recovery support services.

• Authorizes the director to promulgate rules implementing the chapter and eliminates outdated sections regarding cooperative service plan components and previous board structure provisions.