HomeMy WebLinkAboutord2012-042 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 2012-330
CLEARANCES Initial Date Date Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assigned to:
Originator: jm 10i8n2 9 : C IE O V i ^1J1 10/ 23/2012 Introduction
Division Head: f 11 /7/ 2012 Finance/Council
Dept. Head: P to f's/it OCT 15 2012
Prosecutor: I mil 4 I �2 I I 7- WHATCOM COUNTY L
Purchasing/Budget:
6 COUNCI
Executive:
TITLE OF DOC Pill l NT:
Repeal and Replace WCC Chapter 2.44 to Establish a Behavioral Health Program.
ATTACHMENT:
Memo to Executive, WCC Chapter 2.44 Exhibit A, Ordinance
SEPA review required? ( ) Yes ( X ) NO Should Clerk schedule a hearing? ( ) Yes ( X ) NO
SEPA review completed? ( ) Yes ( X ) NO Requested Date:
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE:
The purpose of the proposed amendment to Whatcom County Code is to repeal and replace Chapter 2 .44. The
new chapter will establish the Behavioral Health Program and a single behavior health advisory board. The
existing Chapter 2 .44 contained many outdated or inapplicable sections.
COMMITTEE ACTION: COUNCIL ACTION:
11 / 07 / 2012 : Forwarded to Council for approval 10 / 23 / 2012 : Introduced
11 / 07 / 2012 : Council Adopted 6 -0 , Weimer
absent Ord . 2012-042
Related County Contract #: Related File Numbers: Ordinance or Resolution Number:
Ord . 2012-042
Please Note: Once adopted and signed, ordinances and resolutions are available for viewing and printing on
the County 's website at: www. co. whatcom. wa. us/council.
Date prepared : 10/ 11 / 12
1 SPONSORED BY : Consent
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3 PROPOSED BY : Health
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5 INTRODUCTION DATE : 10 / 23 / 2012
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9 ORDINANCE NO . 2012-042
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12 An Ordinance Repealing and Replacing WCC Chapter 2.44 to
13 Establish a Behavioral Health Program
14
15 WHEREAS , certain sections of the existing code are obsolete because
16 the department no longer offers the services specified and because state law
17 has changed ; and
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19 WHEREAS, Whatcom County currently has two separate boards
20 advising the County on behavioral health services ; and
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22 WHEREAS , national and state healthcare changes are leading the way
23 to integrated behavioral health services ; and
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25 WHEREAS, national data indicates that up to 42 % of people who have
26 a severe mental health disorder also have a substance use disorder
27 indicating a high degree of overlapping needs and risk factors ; and
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29 WHEREAS , people with both mental health and substance use
30 disorders have higher rates of violence , poorer overall functioning , and
31 poorer health outcomes than people with either condition alone ; and
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33 WHEREAS, the quality of our citizens ' health and recovery from
34 behavioral health disorders is improved when we integrate and coordinate
35 care to the greatest extent possible ; and
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37 WHEREAS, an integrated behavioral health advisory board will
38 increase organizational efficiencies and is recommended by the Whatcom
39 County Mental Health and Substance Abuse Advisory Boards .
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Date prepared : 10/ 11 / 12
1
2 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County
3 Council that Whatcom County Code Chapter 2 . 44 is repealed and replaced as
4 specified in Exhibit A of this ordinance to include integrating substance abuse
5 and mental health advisory boards into a Behavioral Health Advisory Board
6 and repealing obsolete sections .
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8
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10 Apci t ' thiis. 7th day of November , 2012 .
11 C>`` (, ® Nn ' ,• le.• WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
14 A-Et :•� "\. \A ". WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
15 - `k GO IS
16 -0akeilik „st. ' o •
17 or-- Sakai
19 Dank rowntDevt�, ' r sbf the Council KatyKershner, Council Chair
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20 ''% `
21 °°0°� 0rr , s eii �``�`
22
23 WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE
24 �� WHATCOM o' TY, W HINGTON
25 AP , R VEDS TO : '"' •
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27 �� /� '
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29 Civil Deputy Prosecutor Jack Louws, County utive
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31 ( A Approved ( ) Denied
32 �� a---
33 Date Signed : // as
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Page 2
Exhibit A
Chapter 2.44
Behavioral Health Program
Sections :
2.44.010 Department responsibilities.
2.44.020 Contracts.
2.44. 030 Behavioral Health Advisory Board is created.
2.44. 040 Severability,
2.44.050 References to State Law.
2.44. 010 Department responsibilities.
A. Administration of funding .
The Health Department shall administer the Behavioral Health Program under the authority of the County
Executive. The Department shall administer funds for behavioral health programs, including substance
abuse and mental health services . This administration will include state and federal funds (RCW 70 .96A),
sales and use tax (RCW 82. 14) property tax ( RCW 71 .20. ) and 2% liquor profits and excise taxes (RCW
70 .96A. )
B. Compliance with state regulations .
The Health Department shall adhere to all federal and state laws for the administration and coordination
of substance abuse and mental health services and funding . (RCW 70 .96A &RCW 71 .20) The
department shall ensure the appointment of the Substance Abuse Coordinator, according to RCW
70 .96A.
C. Treatment services .
The Health Department shall plan and prioritize programs and services for people with substance use
disorders and mental health disorders . The Health Department shall ensure, to the extent allowed by
state and federal laws , a system of integrated and coordinated behavioral health care and treatment.
(Ord . 96-061 Ex. A; Ord . 87-79 § 1 ).
D. Cooperation and coordination with other entities .
The Health Department may enter into contracts with and/or receive moneys from public and private
entities to carry out behavioral health services. (Ord . 87-79 § 9). The Department will work with state,
regional , and local entities which provide services, payment, or funding to assure a reasonable system of
care for people with behavioral health disorders. (Ord . 96-061 Exh . A; Ord . 87-79 § 2)
2.44020 Contracts.
All previous contracts, agreements, rights, claims and obligations shall continue in full force.
. . . . . . . . -.
2.44.030 Behavioral Health Advisory Board is created.
A. The Whatcom County Behavioral Health Advisory Board is created and shall serve in an advisory
capacity to the Health Department. The Behavioral Health Advisory Board may advise the Health
Department on general priorities for behavioral health programs, including substance abuse and mental
health services .
B. The membership of the Behavioral Health Advisory Board shall adhere to rules described in RCW
70 .96A ensuring that the membership is composed of residents who reflect minority groups and the
diversity within the community.
The Behavioral Health Advisory Board shall consist of ten members who are residents of Whatcom
County. Nine members of the Behavioral Health Advisory Board shall be appointed by the County
Executive, subject to confirmation by a majority of the County Council . One member shall be a member of
the County Council and shall be appointed by the County Council . One quarter of the board 's members
must be people in recovery from alcohol or other drug addictions as required by RCW 70 .96A. Additional
board membership criterion shall be indicated in the Behavioral Health Advisory Board bylaws .
The term of office for the members appointed by the executive shall be three years . In order to stagger
the terms of office on the initial board :
• Three members shall be appointed to serve for three years .
• Three members shall serve for two years.
• Three members shall serve for one year.
The term of office for the member appointed by the County Council shall be for one year. The council
member's term extends from the time of the council's reorganization meeting in January to the next such
meeting in the following year.
C. At their initial meeting or as soon as possible, the advisory board shall elect officers and adopt bylaws .
The board shall adopt rules and regulations of procedure as needed for the conduct of their business .
(Ord . 88-9 (part); Ord . 87-79 § 4).
D . The Behavioral Health Advisory Board may advise the Health Department about nominees to act as
representatives on other county, regional , and state advisory boards . (Ord . 87-79 § 6).
2.44. 040 Severability.
If any provision of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
remainder of this chapter or the application of the provisions to other persons or circumstances is not
affected . (Ord . 2008-027 Exh . A).
2.44.050 References to State Law.
Any and all reference to state statues are in effect as referenced above or as hereinafter amended by
state authority.