MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION
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Legislative Reference:  Established pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5604, Resolution No. 77-333, August 9, 1977, Section 5604, Chapter 1, Part (Short-Doyle); amended by Resolution No. 80-12; amended by Resolution No. 84-273 (re-structuring board) and rescinding Resolution No. 77-333; amended by Resolution No. 86-76; amended by Resolution No. 93-271 (name change) adopted July 27, 1993; amended by board order on December 14, 2004, August 28, 2007; December 8, 2009; July 27, 2010

Membership: 

The Mental Health commission shall consist of 16 individuals plus one member of the Board of Supervisors for a total of 17 members appointed by the Board of Supervisors.

 a. At least 50% of the membership shall be consumers or the parents, spouses, siblings or adult children of consumers, who are receiving or have received mental health services.  At least 20% of the total membership shall be consumers, and at least 20% shall be family members of consumers.

 b. The remaining members shall be selected from individuals who have experience or knowledge of the mental health system;

 c. The Board of Supervisors, in consultation with the Mental Health Commission, may appoint up to one member who is a Chief law enforcement officer with a local law enforcement agency from within the geographic boundaries of Monterey County.

 d. The Board of Supervisors may appoint up to five associate members between the ages of 15 and 18 years to bring the perspectives of youth to the Mental Health Commission. These associates will have not have voting privileges but will have the right to participate in all other matters of the board, with the exception of training conducted in areas outside the county. The members of this class serve a one-year term. Terms will expire December 31 of each year. 

 e. The Mental Health commission will also consist of Non-Voting Members with no more than one member from each supervisorial district.

Terms:  Each appointee serves a 3-year term. The members’ terms are staggered so that five members appointed by the individual Supervisors expire each year. The regular appointee’s terms run from June 1st of the year of appointment, until May 31st, three years later.

Staff Contact: Behavioral Health ~ Paula Lewycky ~ 755-4509

Mental Health Commission