Utah Code § 26B-5-703 — Utah Code / Title 26B / Chapter 26B-5 / § 26B-5-703
§ 26B-5-703. Purpose -- Duties -- Reporting.
Status: in_force

(1) The purpose of the commission is to be the central authority for coordinating behavioral health initiatives between state and local governments, health systems, and other interested persons, to ensure that Utah's behavioral health systems are comprehensive, aligned, effective, and efficient. (2) To fulfill the commission's purpose, the commission shall: (a) establish a shared vision across public and private sectors for improving Utah's behavioral health systems; (b) make recommendations, including policy recommendations, and advise the governor, executive branch agencies, and the Legislature on matters pertaining to behavioral health; (c) provide feedback on proposed bills, rules, policies, and budgets relating to behavioral health; (d) encourage participation in the commission's work by individuals and populations directly impacted by behavioral health issues, including family members of individuals with behavioral health issues; (e) engage private sector payers, providers, and business and employer groups in the commission's work; (f) continually review and revise the master plan as appropriate; (g) identify priorities and lead efforts to implement and advance those priorities by coordinating and collaborating closely with public and private persons throughout the state; (h) identify areas where innovation is necessary to improve behavioral health access and care; (i) cooperate with the Utah System of Higher Education, the State Board of Education, the Division of Professional Licensing, the Utah Health Workforce Advisory Council, and the department to oversee the creation and implementation of behavioral health workforce initiatives for the state; (j) collaborate with the Utah State Hospital, the Department of Corrections, county jails, and the department; (k) regarding the interaction between an individual with a mental illness or an intellectual disability and the civil commitment system, criminal justice system, or juvenile justice system: (i) promote communication between and coordination among all agencies interacting with the individual; (ii) study, evaluate, and recommend changes to laws and procedures; (iii) identify and promote the implementation of specific policies and programs to deal fairly and efficiently with the individual; and (iv) promote judicial education; (l) study the long-term need for adult patient staffed beds at the state hospital, including: (i) the total number of staffed beds currently in use at the state hospital; (ii) the current staffed bed capacity at the state hospital; (iii) the projected total number of staffed beds needed in the adult general psychiatric unit of the state hospital over the next three, five, and 10 years based on: (A) the state's current and projected population growth; (B) current access to mental health resources in the community; and (C) any other factors the committee finds relevant to projecting the total number of staffed beds; and (iv) the cost associated with the projected total number of staffed beds described in Subsection (2)(l)(iii); (m) oversee coordination for the funding, implementation, and evaluation of suicide prevention efforts described in Section 26B-5-611; (n) develop methods or models for implementing and coherently communicating cross-sector strategies; (o) hold the state's behavioral health systems accountable for clear, measurable outcomes; and (p) maintain independence from the department and the governor such that the commission and its committees are able to provide independent advice and recommendations, especially regarding proposed bills and policy considerations. (3) The commission may delegate responsibilities to the commission's committees and subcommittees as the commission deems appropriate. (4) (a) The commission shall meet at least quarterly, but may meet at other times as scheduled by the chair. (b) The chair of the commission shall set the agenda for each commission meeting with input from commission members and staff. (c) Notice of the time and place of a commission meeting shall be given to each member and to the public in compliance with Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public Meetings Act. (d) A commission meeting is open to the public unless the meeting or a portion of a meeting is closed by the commission pursuant to Section 52-4-204 or Section 52-4-205. (5) On or before December 31, 2024, the commission shall provide a report to the Legislature that includes: (a) recommendations for behavioral health measures and targets to be included in the next update to the master plan; (b) recommendations for consolidating into the commission other commissions, committees, subcommittees, task forces, working groups, or other bodies pertaining to behavioral health; (c) recommendations on the next steps for reviewing and potentially redefining state law and program options regarding county-based behavioral health services; and (d) recommendations on key budget priorities and key legislative policies for the 2025 General Session and thereafter. (6) (a) Beginning in 2025, by no later than September 30 of each year, the commission shall provide a report to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee that describes the commission's work during the preceding year and includes, in accordance with Section 26B-5-705, any legislative recommendations from the commission. (b) Before the commission submits a legislative recommendation to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee or the Legislature, the Legislative Policy Committee created in Section 26B-5-705 shall review the recommendation. (7) Neither the commission nor a committee of the commission may obtain any individual's health or medical information, whether identifiable or deidentified, without first obtaining the consent of the individual or the individual's legal representative.