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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>87433</law_id><section_number>37.2-602</section_number><catch_line>Board of directors; appointment; membership</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="37.2">Behavioral Health and Developmental Services</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Behavioral Health and Developmental Services</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="6">Behavioral Health Authorities</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>A city or county, before it shall come within the provisions of this chapter, shall establish a <span class="dictionary">behavioral health authority</span> with a <span class="dictionary">board</span> of directors with no less than six and no more than 18 members. When any city or county establishes a <span class="dictionary">behavioral health authority</span>, the <span class="dictionary">board</span> of directors shall be appointed by the governing body of the city or county establishing the authority. Prior to making appointments, the governing body shall disclose the names of persons being considered for appointment.
		Appointments to the <span class="dictionary">board</span> of directors shall be broadly representative of the community. One-third of the appointments to the <span class="dictionary">board</span> shall be <span class="dictionary">individuals</span> who are receiving or who have received services or <span class="dictionary">family members</span> of <span class="dictionary">individuals</span> who are receiving or who have received services, at least one of whom shall be an <span class="dictionary">individual receiving services</span>. One or more appointments may be nongovernmental services providers. Sheriffs or their designees also shall be appointed, when practical.
		No <span class="dictionary">board</span> of directors shall include more than two local government officials, elected or appointed, as members.
		The <span class="dictionary">board</span> of directors appointed pursuant to this section shall be responsible to the governing body of the city or county that established the authority.
		The county or city that establishes a <span class="dictionary">behavioral health authority</span> shall receive an independent annual audit of the total revenues and expenditures from the authority, a copy of which shall be provided to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>.</p></section></text><history>1995, c. 693, &#xA7; 15.1-1679; 1996, c. 861; 1997, c. 587, &#xA7; 37.1-245; 1998, c. 680; 2005, c. 716; 2012, cc. 476, 507.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
