14- 193 C.M.R. ch. 4, § 1
By passage of P.L. 1986, Chapter 761, the 112th Maine Legislature directed the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation to promulgate rules to assure representation on the boards of directors of community mental health programs principally funded by the department from area affiliates of the Maine State Alliance for the Mentally Ill or similarly organized mental health consumer organizations, such as the Coalition for the Psychiatrically Labeled. Legislative intent, based on testimony before the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs, was to require a consumer voice and consumer vote in the policy deliberations of agencies receiving substantial public funding which, because of the amount and type of their services, make a major impact on the lives of consumer's of mental health services and their families.
The rules outlined in this chapter are limited to the following community mental health agencies which have been determined by the Bureau of Mental Health to be within the scope of legislative direction authorizing these rules:
Aroostook Mental Health Center of Caribou, Maine
Community Health & Counseling Services of Bangor, Maine
Kennebec Valley Mental Health Center of Waterville, Maine
Motivational Services, Inc. of Augusta, Maine
Tri-County Mental Health Services of Lewiston, Maine
York County Counseling Services of Saco, Maine
Bath-Brunswick Mental Health Association of Brunswick, Maine
Mid-Coast Mental Health Center of Rockland, Maine
[Holy Innocents' Home Care Service of Portland, Maine]
The above agencies will hereinafter be referred to as "affected agencies" or, in singular, as an "affected agency." The Bureau of Mental Health may add additional agencies by amendment to these rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act.
NOTE: The Legislative specification of affiliates of the Maine State Alliance for the Mentally Ill and such organizations as the Coalition for the Psychiatrically Labeled makes it clear that the intent is to require representation from organizations whose mission involves support and advocacy relating to persons suffering from or affected by severe and persistent mental illness. There are many other family support and consumer organizations concerned with other mental health-related issues, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or parent support and advocacy groups. Those organizations are not within the scope of these rules.
14- 193 C.M.R. ch. 4, § 1