Executive Order  No. 496: Re-establishing the Massachusetts Interagency Council on Substance Abuse and Prevention

WHEREAS, substance use disorders are a societal, systemic issue, which left untreated take an enormous human toll and impose an enormous impact on every major health, social and criminal justice system;

WHEREAS, the consequences of alcohol and drug abuse demand closely coordinated leadership with the authority to maximize and align available resources and to develop unified strategies to drive changes in the prevention and treatment systems;

WHEREAS, substance abuse related prevention and treatment services dealing with health, education, treatment, prevention, interdiction, prosecution and related criminal activity are provided in multiple branches of both the executive and judicial levels of government as well as the private sector; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of the Commonwealth will best be served by the creation of an Interagency Council to coordinate the numerous efforts provided by agencies and branches of government throughout the Commonwealth;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution, Part 2, c. 2, § 1, Art. 1, do hereby revoke Executive Order 467 and order as follows:

Section 1. There is hereby re-established the Massachusetts Interagency Council on Substance Abuse and Prevention that will function to:

(a) support the efforts of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to fulfill its statutory mandate to supervise, coordinate and establish standards for the operation of substance use prevention and treatment services;

(b) oversee implementation of initiatives and programs that effectively direct the existing resources and minimize the impact of substance abuse;

(c) develop and recommend formal policies and procedures for the coordination and efficient utilization of programs and resources across state agencies and secretariats;

(d) develop an annual report and submit to the Governor, by November of each year, all activities of the Council and recommend further efforts and resource needs; and

(e) review the role and functions of the Advisory Council on Alcoholism (G.L. c. 17, § 14) and the Drug Rehabilitation Advisory Board (G.L. c. 111E, § 3) and recommend changes as necessary.

Section 2. The Interagency Council will be chaired by the Lieutenant Governor, staffed by an Executive Director appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, and shall consist of the following members or their designees: the Secretary of Health and Human Services; the Secretary of Public Safety; the Secretary of Elder Affairs; the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; the Commissioner of Education; the Commissioner of Correction; the Chair of the Parole Board; the Commissioner of Probation; the Commissioner of Public Health; the Commissioner of Youth Services; the Commissioner of Mental Health; the Commissioner of Mental Retardation; the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission; the Commissioner of Transitional Assistance; the Commissioner of Social Services; the Commissioner of Health Care Finance and Policy; the Commissioner for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; the Commissioner for Early Education and Care; the Assistant Commissioner of Public Health for Substance Abuse Services; the Medicaid Director; a representative of the Juvenile Court; a representative of the Superior Court; a representative of the District Court; a representative of the Governor's Office; one private citizen who is recovering from substance abuse problems, appointed by the Governor; one member appointed by the President of the Senate; one member appointed by the Speaker of the House; one member appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; one member appointed by the House Minority Leader; and other appropriate representatives as determined by the Governor. All members shall serve without compensation in an advisory capacity and at the pleasure of the Governor.

Section 3. The Interagency Council shall meet at least four (4) times annually and shall establish task groups, meetings, forums and any other activity deemed necessary to carry out its mandate.

Section 4. The Interagency Council will establish an Executive Committee composed of a minimum of eleven (11) members that will meet on a bi-monthly basis to provide guidance on the recommendations of the Council. At minimum, this Executive Committee will be comprised of the following members or their designees: the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Public Safety; the Commissioner of Public Health; the Commissioner of Social Services; the Commissioner of Correction; the Commissioner of Mental Health; the Commissioner of Youth Services; the Medicaid Director; the Assistant Commissioner of Public Health for Substance Abuse Services; and at least two additional members from the Council.

Section 5. All affected agencies, departments and boards of the Commonwealth shall fully cooperate with the Interagency Council. The Council may call and rely upon the expertise and services of individuals and entities outside of its membership for research, advice, support or other functions necessary and appropriate to further accomplish its mission.

Section 6. This Executive Order shall continue in effect until amended, superseded, or revoked by subsequent Executive Order.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 11th day of January in the year of our Lord two thousand and eight and of the Independence of the United States two hundred and thirty-two.

DEVAL L. PATRICK
GOVERNOR
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

WILLIAM FRANCIS GALVIN
Secretary of the Commonwealth