Senate Enrolled Act No. 24 - Summary

• Expands the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Planning and Advisory Council from 11 to 29 members, including representatives from education, Medicaid, rehabilitation services, housing, criminal justice, and child services, with at least 50% of appointed members being non-state employees or service providers.

• Changes the council's meeting requirement from monthly to quarterly and allows the director to appoint an annual chairperson from among council members for one-year terms.

• Modifies superintendent tenure at state institutions from fixed four-year terms to at-will employment serving at the pleasure of the director.

• Repeals provisions related to the Dawn Project, opioid treatment program reporting requirements, and Central State Hospital closure obligations regarding long-term inpatient bed maintenance.

• Adds social workers, marriage and family therapists, and counselors to the list of health professions requiring criminal background checks for initial licensure and establishes temporary exemptions from licensure requirements for addiction counselors through December 31, 2012.