Arkansas § 10-3-3001 - Behavioral Health Treatment Access Legislative Task Force. [Expired.]

§ 10-3-3001. Behavioral Health Treatment Access Legislative Task Force. [Expired.]

There is created a Behavioral Health Treatment Access Legislative Task Force responsible for ensuring that persons in the criminal justice system who have a demonstrated need for behavioral health treatment have access to treatment. The Bureau of Legislative Research shall provide staff support for the task force. The task force is composed of no more than nine (9) members, as follows: No more than four (4) members may be appointed by the Governor from the following persons: No more than one (1) member who is engaged in providing substance abuse treatment in the private sector; No more than one (1) member who is engaged in providing mental health treatment in the private sector; and No more than two (2) members of the general public who advocate for access to behavioral health services; The Director of the Department of Community Correction or his or her designee; The Deputy Chief Counsel of the Office of Chief Counsel of the Department of Human Services or his or her designee; The Insurance Commissioner or his or her designee; One (1) member of the General Assembly to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; and One (1) member of the General Assembly to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The task force shall organize itself by electing such other officers as the task force may consider necessary. The task force is to meet at least quarterly and as often as necessary and at the call of the Chair of the Behavioral Health Treatment Access Legislative Task Force or a majority of the members. A quorum of the task force consists of five (5) members. The task force has the following powers and duties: To facilitate access to behavioral health treatment programs; To coordinate with other public and private entities to develop and promote access; To take steps to reduce costs and encourage evidence-based care; To assess feasibility and make recommendation for changes to state programs to improve access; and To prepare and submit an annual report by December 1 of each year to the Governor and the Legislative Council. This section shall expire on September 30, 2017.