§334-10  State council on mental health. (a)  There is established a state council on mental health.  The council shallconsist of twenty-one members appointed by the governor as provided in section26-34.  In making appointments to the council, the governor shall ensure thatall service area boards of the State are represented, and that a majority ofthe members are nonproviders of mental health or other health services, andthat a majority of the members are not state employees.  The number of parentsof children with serious emotional disturbances shall be sufficient to provideadequate representation of such children in the deliberations of the council. The council shall be composed of residents of the State, including individualsrepresenting:

(1)  The principal state agencies with respect tomental health, education, vocational rehabilitation, criminal justice, housing,and social services;

(2)  Public and private entities concerned with theneed, planning, operation, funding, and use of mental health services andrelated support services;

(3)  Adults with serious mental illnesses who arereceiving, or have received, mental health services;

(4)  The families of such adults or families ofchildren with serious emotional disturbances; and

(5)  The Hawaii advisory commission on drug abuse andcontrolled substances who shall be a person knowledgeable about the communityand the relationships between mental health, mental illness, and substanceabuse.

(b)  The council shall elect a chairperson fromamong its members.  All members shall serve without compensation but shall bepaid their necessary expenses in attending meetings of the council.

(c)  The councilshall advise the department on allocation of resources, statewide needs, andprograms affecting two or more service areas.  The council shall review andcomment on the statewide comprehensive integrated service plan and shall serveas an advocate for adults with serious mental illness, children with seriousemotional disturbances, other individuals with mental illnesses or emotionalproblems, and individuals with combined mental illness substance abusedisorders.

(d)  If the department's action is not inconformance with the council's advice, the department shall provide a writtenexplanation of its position to the council.

(e)  The councilshall prepare and submit an annual report to the governor and the legislatureon implementation of the statewide comprehensive integrated service plan.  The report presented to the legislature shall besubmitted at least twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session.[L 1984, c 218, pt of §1; am L 1993, c 210, §2; am L 2004, c 79, §3]