{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/37.2-600.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/37.2-600.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/37.2-600.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/37.2-600.html"}],"law_id":65047,"edition_id":1,"section_id":65047,"structure_id":13973,"section_number":"37.2-600","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1995, c. 693, \u00a7 15.1-1677; 1996, c. 861; 1997, c. 587, \u00a7 37.1-243; 1998, c. 680; 2005, c. 716; 2012, cc. 476, 507.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t&#8220;Behavioral health&#8221; means the full range of mental health, developmental, and substance abuse services and treatment modalities.\n\t\t&#8220;Behavioral health authority board of directors&#8221; means the public body organized in accordance with provisions of this chapter that is appointed by and accountable to the governing body of the city or county that established it.\n\t\t&#8220;Behavioral health project&#8221; means any facility suitable for providing adequate care for concentrated centers of population and includes structures, buildings, improvements, additions, extensions, replacements, appurtenances, lands, rights in land, franchises, machinery, equipment, furnishings, landscaping, approaches, roadways, and other necessary or desirable facilities.\n\t\t&#8220;Member&#8221; means a person appointed by the governing body of a city or county to the behavioral health authority board of directors.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":236777,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t&#8220;Behavioral health&#8221; means the full range of mental health, developmental, and substance abuse services and treatment modalities.\n\t\t&#8220;Behavioral health authority board of directors&#8221; means the public body organized in accordance with provisions of this chapter that is appointed by and accountable to the governing body of the city or county that established it.\n\t\t&#8220;Behavioral health project&#8221; means any facility suitable for providing adequate care for concentrated centers of population and includes structures, buildings, improvements, additions, extensions, replacements, appurtenances, lands, rights in land, franchises, machinery, equipment, furnishings, landscaping, approaches, roadways, and other necessary or desirable facilities.\n\t\t&#8220;Member&#8221; means a person appointed by the governing body of a city or county to the behavioral health authority board of directors.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13973,"edition_id":1,"name":"Behavioral Health Authorities","identifier":"6","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13087,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:28","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:28","permalink":{"id":210087,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13973,"identifier":"6","token":"37.2\/II\/6","url":"\/37.2\/II\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13087,"edition_id":1,"name":"Behavioral Health and Developmental Services","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12843,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:16","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:16","permalink":{"id":210023,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13087,"identifier":"II","token":"37.2\/II","url":"\/37.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12843,"edition_id":1,"name":"Behavioral Health and Developmental Services","identifier":"37.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":209673,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12843,"identifier":"37.2","token":"37.2","url":"\/37.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":65047,"structure_id":13973,"section_number":"37.2-600","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/37.2-600\/","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-600","metadata":false},{"id":79192,"structure_id":13973,"section_number":"37.2-601","catch_line":"Behavioral health authorities; purpose","url":"\/37.2-601\/","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-601","metadata":false},{"id":87433,"structure_id":13973,"section_number":"37.2-602","catch_line":"Board of directors; appointment; membership","url":"\/37.2-602\/","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-602","metadata":false},{"id":86803,"structure_id":13973,"section_number":"37.2-603","catch_line":"Board of directors; terms; vacancies; removal","url":"\/37.2-603\/","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-603","metadata":false},{"id":59443,"structure_id":13973,"section_number":"37.2-604","catch_line":"Board of directors; officers; meetings","url":"\/37.2-604\/","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-604","metadata":false},{"id":83745,"structure_id":13973,"section_number":"37.2-605","catch_line":"Behavioral health authorities; powers and duties","url":"\/37.2-605\/","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-605","metadata":false},{"id":72901,"structure_id":13973,"section_number":"37.2-606","catch_line":"Coordination of services for preadmission screening and discharge planning","url":"\/37.2-606\/","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-606","metadata":false},{"id":72398,"structure_id":13973,"section_number":"37.2-607","catch_line":"Background check required","url":"\/37.2-607\/","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-607","metadata":false},{"id":85448,"structure_id":13973,"section_number":"37.2-608","catch_line":"Performance contract for mental health, developmental, and substance abuse services","url":"\/37.2-608\/","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-608","metadata":false},{"id":62038,"structure_id":13973,"section_number":"37.2-609","catch_line":"Exemption from taxation","url":"\/37.2-609\/","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-609","metadata":false},{"id":56744,"structure_id":13973,"section_number":"37.2-610","catch_line":"Transfer of facilities and assets","url":"\/37.2-610\/","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-610","metadata":false},{"id":63802,"structure_id":13973,"section_number":"37.2-611","catch_line":"Local appropriations; allocation of funds by Department; reduction of funds","url":"\/37.2-611\/","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-611","metadata":false},{"id":55036,"structure_id":13973,"section_number":"37.2-612","catch_line":"Liability for expenses of services","url":"\/37.2-612\/","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-612","metadata":false},{"id":80506,"structure_id":13973,"section_number":"37.2-613","catch_line":"Proceedings for dissolution","url":"\/37.2-613\/","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-613","metadata":false},{"id":81116,"structure_id":13973,"section_number":"37.2-614","catch_line":"When powers and duties cease to exist","url":"\/37.2-614\/","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-614","metadata":false},{"id":65686,"structure_id":13973,"section_number":"37.2-615","catch_line":"Authority to enter into joint agreements","url":"\/37.2-615\/","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-615","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":79192,"structure_id":13973,"section_number":"37.2-601","catch_line":"Behavioral health authorities; purpose","url":"\/37.2-601\/","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-601","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/37.2-600\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1995. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?951+ful+CHAP0693\">693<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1996, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?961+ful+CHAP0861\">861<\/a>; in 1997, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?971+ful+CHAP0587\">587<\/a>; in 1998, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?981+ful+CHAP0680\">680<\/a>; in 2005, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?051+ful+CHAP0716\">716<\/a>; in 2012, chapters <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?121+ful+CHAP0476\">476<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?121+ful+CHAP0507\">507<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":68930,"section_number":"15.2-1535","catch_line":"Members of governing body not to be elected or appointed by governing body to certain offices","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-1535\/"},{"id":81089,"section_number":"19.2-389","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Dissemination of criminal history record information","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-389\/"},{"id":76036,"section_number":"37.2-100","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-100\/"},{"id":60895,"section_number":"37.2-500","catch_line":"Purpose; community services board; services to be provided","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-500\/"},{"id":62871,"section_number":"51.5-169","catch_line":"Cooperative agreements with community services boards and schools","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.5-169\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":210089,"object_type":"law","relational_id":65047,"identifier":"37.2-600","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-600","url":"\/37.2-600\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/37.2-600\/","token":"37.2\/II\/6\/37.2-600","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 37.2-600","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t&#8220;Behavioral health&#8221; means the full range of mental health, developmental, and <span class=\"dictionary\">substance abuse<\/span> services and treatment modalities.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\"><span class=\"dictionary\">Behavioral health authority<\/span> board of directors<\/span>&#8221; means the public body organized in accordance with provisions of this chapter that is appointed by and accountable to the governing body of the city or county that established it.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Behavioral health project<\/span>&#8221; means any <span class=\"dictionary\">facility<\/span> suitable for providing adequate care for concentrated centers of population and includes structures, buildings, improvements, additions, extensions, replacements, appurtenances, lands, rights in land, franchises, machinery, equipment, furnishings, landscaping, approaches, roadways, and other necessary or desirable facilities.\n\t\t&#8220;<span class=\"dictionary\">Member<\/span>&#8221; means a person appointed by the governing body of a city or county to the <span class=\"dictionary\"><span class=\"dictionary\">behavioral health authority<\/span> board of directors<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 37.2-600)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t&#8220;Behavioral health&#8221; means the full range of mental health,\ndevelopmental, and substance abuse services and treatment modalities.\n\t\t&#8220;Behavioral health authority board of directors&#8221; means the public\nbody organized in accordance with provisions of this chapter that is appointed\nby and accountable to the governing body of the city or county that established\nit.\n\t\t&#8220;Behavioral health project&#8221; means any facility suitable for\nproviding adequate care for concentrated centers of population and includes\nstructures, buildings, improvements, additions, extensions, replacements,\nappurtenances, lands, rights in land, franchises, machinery, equipment,\nfurnishings, landscaping, approaches, roadways, and other necessary or desirable\nfacilities.\n\t\t&#8220;Member&#8221; means a person appointed by the governing body of a city\nor county to the behavioral health authority board of directors.\n\nHISTORY: 1995, c. 693, \u00a7 15.1-1677; 1996, c. 861; 1997, c. 587, \u00a7 37.1-243;\n1998, c. 680; 2005, c. 716; 2012, cc. 476, 507.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}