1     
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE COMMISSION

2     
AMENDMENTS

3     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

4     
STATE OF UTAH

5     
Chief Sponsor: Michael S. Kennedy

6     
House Sponsor: ____________

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill modifies provisions related to the Behavioral Health Crisis Response
11     Commission.
12     Highlighted Provisions:
13          This bill:
14          ▸     clarifies the process for awarding a contract for management and operation of the
15     statewide mental health crisis line and the statewide warm line;
16          ▸     modifies the membership of the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Commission;
17          ▸     provides that the governor or the governor's designee is the chair of the Behavioral
18     Health Crisis Response Commission; and
19          ▸     makes technical changes.
20     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
21          None
22     Other Special Clauses:
23          None
24     Utah Code Sections Affected:
25     AMENDS:
26          62A-15-1302, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 303
27          63C-18-202, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 303

28     

29     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
30          Section 1. Section 62A-15-1302 is amended to read:
31          62A-15-1302. Contracts for statewide mental health crisis line and statewide
32     warm line -- Crisis worker and certified peer support specialist qualification or
33     certification.
34          (1) (a) The division shall [enter into a new contract or modify an existing contract to
35     manage and operate, in accordance with this part,] issue a request for proposals to award a
36     contract for management and operation of the statewide mental health crisis line and the
37     statewide warm line in accordance with this part.
38          (b) Through the [contracts] contract described in Subsection (1)(a) and in consultation
39     with the commission, the division shall set standards of care and practice for:
40          (i) the mental health therapists and crisis workers who staff the statewide mental health
41     crisis line; and
42          (ii) the mental health therapists, crisis workers, and certified peer support specialists
43     who staff the statewide warm line.
44          (2) (a) The division shall establish training and minimum standards for the
45     qualification or certification of:
46          (i) crisis workers who staff the statewide mental health crisis line, the statewide warm
47     line, and local mental health crisis lines; and
48          (ii) certified peer support specialists who staff the statewide warm line.
49          (b) The division may make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
50     Administrative Rulemaking Act, necessary to establish the training and minimum standards
51     described in Subsection (2)(a).
52          Section 2. Section 63C-18-202 is amended to read:
53          63C-18-202. Commission established -- Members.
54          (1) There is created the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Commission, composed of
55     the following [16] 17 members:
56          (a) the executive director of the University Neuropsychiatric Institute;
57          (b) the governor or the governor's designee;
58          (c) the director of the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health;

59          (d) one representative of the Office of the Attorney General, appointed by the attorney
60     general;
61          (e) one member of the public, appointed by the chair of the commission and approved
62     by the commission;
63          (f) two individuals who are mental or behavioral health clinicians licensed to practice
64     in the state, appointed by the chair of the commission and approved by the commission, at least
65     one of whom is an individual who:
66          (i) is licensed as a physician under:
67          (A) Title 58, Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act;
68          (B) Title 58, Chapter 67b, Interstate Medical Licensure Compact; or
69          (C) Title 58, Chapter 68, Utah Osteopathic Medical Practice Act; and
70          (ii) is board eligible for a psychiatry specialization recognized by the American Board
71     of Medical Specialists or the American Osteopathic Association's Bureau of Osteopathic
72     Specialists;
73          (g) one individual who represents a county of the first or second class, appointed by the
74     Utah Association of Counties;
75          (h) one individual who represents a county of the third, fourth, or fifth class, appointed
76     by the Utah Association of Counties;
77          (i) one individual who represents the Utah Hospital Association, appointed by the chair
78     of the commission;
79          (j) one individual who represents law enforcement, appointed by the chair of the
80     commission;
81          (k) one individual who has lived with a mental health disorder, appointed by the chair
82     of the commission;
83          (l) one individual who represents an integrated health care system that[: (i) is not
84     affiliated with the chair of the commission; and (ii)] provides inpatient behavioral health
85     services and emergency room services to individuals in the state;
86          (m) one individual who represents an integrated behavioral care system that provides
87     inpatient behavioral health services and emergency room services to individuals in the state;
88          [(m)] (n) one individual who represents [an] a Medicaid accountable care
89     organization[, as defined in Section 26-18-423,] with a statewide membership base;

90          [(n)] (o) one member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the speaker of the
91     House of Representatives; and
92          [(o)] (p) one member of the Senate, appointed by the president of the Senate.
93          [(2) (a) The executive director of the University Neuropsychiatric Institute is the chair
94     of the commission.]
95          (2) (a) The governor or the governor's designee is the chair of the commission.
96          (b) The chair of the commission shall appoint a member of the commission to serve as
97     the vice chair of the commission, with the approval of the commission.
98          (c) The chair of the commission shall set the agenda for each commission meeting.
99          (3) (a) A majority of the members of the commission constitutes a quorum.
100          (b) The action of a majority of a quorum constitutes the action of the commission.
101          (4) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), a member may not receive
102     compensation, benefits, per diem, or travel expenses for the member's service on the
103     commission.
104          (b) Compensation and expenses of a member who is a legislator are governed by
105     Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rules, Title 5, Legislative Compensation and Expenses.
106          (5) The Office of the Attorney General shall provide staff support to the commission.