Senate Bill 1224 - Behavioral Health Services Summary

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

• Establishes Idaho Behavioral Health Cooperative with representatives from judiciary, corrections, juvenile corrections, drug policy office, counties, planning council, consumers, families, education, and health and welfare departments to meet quarterly and advise on community-based behavioral health services delivery.

• Increases regional behavioral health board membership from 17 to 22 members and requires representation from mental health consumers, substance use disorder consumers, families, law enforcement, education, juvenile justice, adult corrections, judiciary, and health providers.

• Authorizes regional behavioral health boards to develop and provide community family support and recovery support services including housing, employment, prevention activities, and supportive services after demonstrating readiness criteria established by the state planning council.

• Authorizes department director to promulgate rules implementing the chapter and allows state behavioral health authority to contract for facility leases for behavioral health centers.