HB 5145 — AN ACT CONCERNING REGIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACTION ORGANIZATIONS.

General Assembly ProposedCommittee Bill No.

4164643 Referred to Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH Introduced by:

REP.(PH) AN ACT CONCERNING REGIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACTION ORGANIZATIONS.

MCCARTY, 38th Dist.

AN ACT CONCERNING A STUDY OF REGIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACTION ORGANIZATIONS.

ThatSection the1. general statutes be amended to establish a task force to (1) study the efficacy of Regional Behavioral Health Action Organizations, and (2) make recommendations concerning their scope of services.

Statement(Effective from passage) The Department of Purpose:Mental Health and Addiction Services shall study the efficacy of regional behavioral health action organizations established pursuant to section 2 of this act.

ToSuch study theshall efficacyinclude an evaluation of Regionalthe Behavioralservices Healthprovided Actionby Organizationssuch organizations and make recommendations concerning theirsuch services.

Not later than January 1, 2020, the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, regarding the findings of such study to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health.

Sec.

2.

(NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There are established within the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services five regional behavioral health action organizations for each mental health region in the state established pursuant to section 17a-478 of the general statutes.

Each regional behavioral health action organization shall work across the continuum of behavioral health care as strategic community LCO No.

4643 1 of 3 Committee Bill No.5145 partners for the planning, education and advocacy for behavioral health needs and services within the region.

(b) The duties of each regional behavioral health action organization, within its mental health region, shall include, but need not be limited to:

(1) Assess the behavioral health needs of children, adolescents and adults across the regions, (2) develop strategic plans to include priority recommendations for substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery services, (3) administer grants to municipalities to stimulate the development and implementation of substance abuse prevention activities, (4) build the capacity of local communities to understand and address problem gambling, (5) raise awareness and provide advocacy to the general public related to mental health promotion and substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery, (6) leverage funds to support substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery activities, (7) serve on local, regional and state-wide advisory and planning bodies, and (8) provide training in the administration of an opioid antagonist, as defined in section 17a-714a of the general statutes, and distribute supplies of opioid antagonists to communities.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

Section 1 from passage New section Sec.

2 from passage New section Statement of Purpose:

To establish regional behavioral health action organizations and to study the efficacy of such organizations and make recommendations concerning their services.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.

Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] Co-Sponsors:

REP.

MCCARTY, 38th Dist.;

REP.

MICHEL, 146th Dist.

REP.

COMEY, 102nd Dist.

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