Main duties of the Citizen Advisory Board

Citizen Advisory Boards play a vital role in informing DMH leadership and shaping services. Specifically, Boards have the following duties and powers:

• To educate the public regarding the needs of individuals with mental illness and their families;
• To receive and review regular reports concerning the Department’s programs and services;
• To make recommendations to the Commissioner or designee based on the review of regular reports;
• To hold regular meetings as follows:
  • An Area Board shall hold at least four regular meetings in each year, and convene special meetings on the call of the board’s president or ten members of the board, or by the Commissioner or designee.
  • All other Advisory Boards shall hold at least three regular meeting in each year, and convene special meetings on the call of the board’s president or a majority of members of the board.
  • A special meeting of any Advisory Board may be called by the Commissioner or designee; provided that the Commissioner or designee may participate in all meetings but may not vote.
• To appoint any permanent or ad hoc advisory committee that the board deems necessary, or as specified in the bylaws. The term of office for any member of such a committee shall be determined by the board, or as specified in the bylaws;
• To elect from its members annually a president and such other officers as it deems appropriate, or as required by law;
• To enact bylaws for its proper organization and procedures at meetings, provided that the bylaws and any subsequent amendments must be submitted to the Commissioner or designee for approval

Source: 104 CMR 26