House Bill 337 Summary

• Defines "behavioral health" as an integrated system for evaluation and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders, and establishes definitions for family support partners, peer support specialists, recovery coaches, and supportive services.

• Clarifies the State Behavioral Health Planning Council's authority to establish readiness and performance criteria for regional boards, evaluate their adherence to criteria, and report to the behavioral health authority if boards fail to fulfill responsibilities for family support and recovery support services.

• Increases regional behavioral health board membership from 22 to 23 members and specifies appointment procedures through a committee composed of county commissioners' chairs, regional board chairs, and department of health and welfare representatives.

• Requires regions to align their administrative boundaries with judicial districts and permits two or more regions to consolidate for purposes of the behavioral health chapter.

• Establishes staggered four-year terms for regional board members, with initial appointments divided into two-year, three-year, and four-year terms to ensure ongoing representation.