WHEREAS, Idaho citizens and their families should have appropriate access to quality services provided through the public mental health and substance abuse systems that are coordinated, efficient and accountable; and

WHEREAS, Idaho’s mental health and substance use disorder system is fragmented; and

WHEREAS, recent findings through the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) identified weaknesses facing Idaho’s coordination of the co-occurring mental health and substance abuse services; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, C.L. “BUTCH” OTTER, Governor of the State of Idaho, by the authority vested in me under the Constitution and laws of this state do hereby create the Governor’s Behavioral Health Transformation Workgroup (Workgroup).

1.      Members of the Workgroup shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

2.      The chair of the Workgroup shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

3.      The members of the Workgroup shall include but are not limited to:

§  Director, Department of Health and Welfare;

§  Director, Department of Correction;

§  Director, Department of Juvenile Corrections;

§  Superintendent of the State Department of Education;

§  Representatives of law enforcement;

§  Administrator, Office of Drug Policy;

§  Chair of the Statewide Drug and Mental Health Court Coordinating Committee;

§  Chair of Idaho State Planning Council on Mental Health;

§  One representative from the Association of Idaho counties;

§  One citizen with experience in mental health service delivery issues;

§  One citizen to represent consumers served by the system.

4.      The Workgroup shall:

 a. Develop a plan for a coordinated, efficient state behavioral health infrastructure with clear responsibilities, leadership authority and action; and

 b. Provide for stakeholder participation in the development and evaluation of the plan.

5.      The plan shall be presented to the Governor by December, 2009.

6.      The Workgroup shall also present its plan to both the Senate and House Health and Welfare Committees and the Legislative Healthcare Taskforce during the 2010 legislative session.

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho in Boise on this 4th  day of February in the year of our Lord two thousand and nine and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-third and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred nineteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE