Existing law creates the Department of Health and Human Services, which consists of a Director, various divisions, including the Division of Public and Behavioral Health and Division of Child and Family Services, and certain other entities. (NRS 232.300) Section 5 of this bill creates the Office of Children's Mental and Behavioral Health within the Office of the Director of the Department. Section 4 of this bill defines the term “Office” to refer to the Office of Children's Mental and Behavioral Health for the purposes of this bill, and section 8 of this bill applies that definition to applicable existing law. Section 5 requires: (1) the Director of the Department to appoint a Director of the Office; and (2) requires the Director of the Office to perform certain duties relating to the oversight of the Office. Section 6 of this bill requires the Office to perform various duties relating to the mental and behavioral health of children in this State. Section 7 of this bill authorizes the Office to: (1) apply for and accept gifts, grants and donations; and (2) seek assistance from and cooperate with public and private entities. Section 7 also requires state and local governmental entities to provide the Office with such assistance as the Office may reasonably require in discharging its duties. Sections 11 and 12 of this bill make appropriations to the Department for the personnel and operating costs of the Office and the cost of procuring equipment and office supplies for the Office, respectively. Existing law creates the Commission on Behavioral Health within the Department. (NRS 232.361) Existing law requires the Commission to appoint a subcommittee on the mental health of children. (NRS 433.317) Existing law also: (1) establishes mental health consortia for different geographic areas of this State; and (2) requires each mental health consortium to prepare and submit to the Director of the Department a long-term strategic plan for the provision of mental health services to children with emotional disturbance within the jurisdiction of the consortium. (NRS 433B.333, 433B.335) Existing law requires the subcommittee on the mental health of children to: (1) create a statewide plan for the provision of mental health services to children; and (2) review the findings and recommendations of each mental health consortium. (NRS 433.317) Section 13 of this bill eliminates the subcommittee. Instead, section 6 requires the Office to: (1) develop a statewide plan for the provision of mental and behavioral health services to children in this State; and (2) review the long-term strategic plans, budget requests and reports of each mental health consortium. Section 9 of this bill accordingly requires each mental health consortium to submit to the Office its long-term strategic plan and certain other reports. Section 9 further requires each consortium to collaborate with the Office as necessary to prepare and submit such reports and plans. Section 10 of this bill requires each mental health consortium to coordinate with the Department and the Office to avoid duplicating or contradicting the efforts of the Department and the Office to provide mental health services to children. Section 1 of this bill requires the Commission to: (1) coordinate with the Office regarding the mental and behavioral health of children in this State; and (2) review the statewide plan developed by the Office pursuant to section 6 and integrate the statewide plan into the policies established by the Commission where appropriate. Existing law: (1) establishes five behavioral health regions within this State; (2) establishes a behavioral health policy board for each region; and (3) requires each policy board to advise the Department, the Division of Public and Behavioral Health and the Commission regarding, among other things, the behavioral health needs of adults and children in each behavioral health region. (NRS 433.425-433.4295) Section 2 of this bill requires each regional behavioral health policy board to coordinate with the Office to provide unified and coordinated recommendations to the Department, Division and Commission regarding the behavioral health needs of children in each behavioral health region.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 433.314, 433.4295, 433B.010, 433B.335, 433B.337, 433.317
BDR: 433.314, 433.4295, 433B.010, 433B.335, 433B.337, 433.317