Laserfiche WebLink
F,_ <br />jU% 1 1983 <br />Commissioner Lyons took this opportunity to thank Mr. <br />Norton for the great job he has been doing and hoped he <br />would hang in there until this is straightened out. Chairman <br />Bird also thanked him for coming and asked him not to <br />hesitate in asking for the Board's assistance. <br />CONTINUATION OF DISCUSSION RE DISTRICT MENTAL HEALTH BOARD <br />Commissioner Wodtke had confirmed during recess that <br />the House Appropriations Committee had approved HB 844 on <br />Tuesday and the Senate's version of the bill, SB 1034, was <br />out of committee. The bill must be approved by the state <br />House of Representatives before it becomes law. Basically, <br />what the bill will do is abolish district mental health <br />boards throughout the state. This will allow the local <br />counties to deal directly with the Department of Health and <br />Rehabilitative Services for funding. <br />Commissioner Wodtke explained that the district boards <br />will be replaced by advisory councils which will make <br />recommendations on policy and spending to HRS district <br />directors. The Advisory Board will be appointed by the <br />county commissioners and will work directly with HRS in <br />developing the plan. That plan will still have to come back <br />to the county commissions for approval. <br />There is a sunset provision in the plan that requires a <br />mandated match on local levels. He did not know how popular <br />that is going to be, but right now it is a mandatory 25% <br />match. However, there is a sunset provision that has been <br />attached to that. <br />Commissioner Wodtke urged the Board to support HB 844 <br />and SB 1034. <br />ON MOTION by Commissioner Wodtke, <br />SECONDED by Commissioner Lyons, the <br />Board unanimously agreed to contact the <br />42 <br />