§ 10-309. Membership

   (a) In general. --

   (1) The mental health advisory committee of each county shall consist of:

      (i) As nonvoting ex officio members, the following individuals or their designees:

         1. The health officer for the county;

         2. A representative of a State inpatient facility that serves that county, appointed as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection;

         3. The county mental health director;

         4. The director of the core service agency, if any; and

         5. In jurisdictions with designated State inpatient beds located in local general hospitals, a representative from that facility; and

      (ii) As voting members, appointed by the governing body of the county and representative of the county's major socio-economic and ethnic groups:

         1. At least 5, but not more than 7, representatives selected from among the following groups or agencies:

            A. The governing body;

            B. The county department of education;

            C. The local department of social services;

            D. The practicing physicians;

            E. Mental health professionals who are not physicians;

            F. The clergy;

            G. The legal profession;

            H. A local law enforcement agency;

            I. A local general hospital that contains an inpatient psychiatric unit;

            J. The Department of Aging;

            K. The Department of Juvenile Services;

            L. The local alcohol and drug abuse agency; and

            M. A local community rehabilitation or housing program; and

         2. At least 5 individuals selected from among the following groups or organizations and appointed as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection:

            A. At least 2 individuals who are currently receiving or who have in the past received mental health services;

            B. Parents or other relatives of adults with mental disorders;

            C. Parents or other relatives of children or adolescents with emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders the onset of which occurred during childhood or adolescence;

            D. The local mental health association, if any; and

            E. A member of the general public.

   (2) If more than one State inpatient facility serves a county, a representative from at least 1 of the facilities shall be appointed by the Director.

   (3) At least one-half of the voting members shall be appointed from among the individuals listed in paragraph (1)(ii)2A through C of this subsection.

   (4) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subsection, if the governing body of Baltimore City or Anne Arundel County designates a core service agency as the mental health advisory committee, the mental health advisory committee shall consist of the governing body of the core service agency.

(b) Intercounty advisory committees. -- If an intercounty advisory committee is established, the governing body of each participating county shall appoint at least 4 members of the committee.

(c) Joint mental health and addictions advisory committees. -- Notwithstanding subsection (a)(1)(ii) of this section, if the governing body of a county establishes a joint mental health and addictions advisory committee, the governing body may appoint any additional members as necessary to advise and advocate about addictions issues.

(d) Tenure of appointees; vacancies. --

   (1) The term of an appointed member is 3 years and begins on July 1.

   (2) The terms of one-third of the appointed members of each county advisory committee or intercounty advisory committee end each year.

   (3) At the end of a term, a member may continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

   (4) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

   (5) A member who serves 2 consecutive full 3-year terms may not be reappointed for 2 years after completion of those terms.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 43, § 1J; 1982, ch. 21, § 2; 1991, ch. 176; 1992, ch. 22, § 1; ch. 430; 1995, ch. 8, § 4; 1997, ch. 325; 1998, ch. 573, § 5; ch. 574, § 5; 2000, ch. 61, § 1; 2003, ch. 53, § 6; 2005, ch. 376; 2007, ch. 272.