Senate Bill No. 2446 amends the Health and Safety Code to enhance the governance of local mental health authorities by introducing new requirements for their governing bodies. Specifically, it mandates that each local mental health authority prepare a monthly expense report detailing expenditures from the previous month and make this report available electronically to all governing body members, including ex officio nonvoting members. Additionally, the bill stipulates that at least one voting member of the governing body must be a public member with business experience, who has not held public elective office, and is appointed by the governing bodies of participating local agencies.

The bill also revises the composition of the governing bodies by specifying that local mental health authorities serving multiple counties must include sheriffs from those counties, with provisions for selecting sheriffs based on population size. It allows sheriffs to designate representatives to serve on the governing body and introduces a rotation system for sheriffs serving as nonvoting members. Furthermore, it prohibits employees of the local mental health authority from serving on its governing body. The existing provision in Section 533.0351(e) is repealed, and the act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 533.035, Health and Safety Code 533.0351 (Health and Safety Code 533)
Senate Committee Report: Health and Safety Code 533.035, Health and Safety Code 533.0351 (Health and Safety Code 533)
Engrossed: Health and Safety Code 533.035, Health and Safety Code 533.0351 (Health and Safety Code 533)