§ 65-211 — Establishment of mental health clinics and joint boards of mental health in certain counties; charges; parolees; disposition of moneys; contract for services with nonprofit corporation, when; report

(a) In all counties wherein there is established a joint board of health pursuant to K.S.A. 65-205, and amendments thereto, the governing bodies of the municipalities involved may by resolution adopted by each of the governing bodies, provide for the establishment of a mental health clinic for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. If established, the mental health clinic shall be operated by and be subject to the jurisdiction of such joint board of health to the same extent as other public health services provided thereby. The joint board of health shall appoint a mental health advisory board of not less than seven members. Members of the mental health advisory board shall include consumers of mental health services or representatives of mental health consumer groups and shall include family members of mentally ill persons. The joint board of health shall establish a schedule of charges for services and medications to persons using the mental health clinic, but no person shall be denied the services and medications of the clinic because of inability to pay for the same. The mental health clinic also shall provide facilities for patients paroled thereto by lawfully constituted authority. All moneys received for services and medications rendered hereunder shall be applied on and used to finance the budget of the joint board of health. If the governing bodies of the municipalities involved hereunder determine by resolution adopted by each of the governing bodies that it is more practicable to contract for such mental health services and medications with a nonprofit corporation, then and in that event the joint board of health shall contract with a nonprofit corporation to provide mental health services hereunder. The governing body of any such nonprofit corporation shall include consumers of mental health services or representatives of mental health consumer groups and shall include family members of mentally ill persons. The nonprofit corporation shall not deny service or medication to anyone because of inability to pay for the same, but the nonprofit corporation may establish a schedule of charges for those who are financially able to pay for such services or medication. The nonprofit corporation annually shall provide the joint board of health with a complete financial report showing the amount of fees collected, the amount of tax money received under the contract, and any other income. The report also shall show any other disbursements, including salaries paid to each person employed by the nonprofit corporation.
(b) In lieu of contracting with a nonprofit corporation to provide mental health services, the governing bodies of municipalities which have established a joint board of health pursuant to K.S.A. 65-205, and amendments thereto, may establish a joint board of mental health for the purpose of authorizing such board to contract for and on behalf of the governing bodies of the municipalities with a nonprofit corporation to provide mental health services. The governing body of any such nonprofit corporation shall include consumers of mental health services or representatives of mental health consumer groups and shall include family members of mentally ill persons. Members of the joint board of mental health shall be appointed in the same manner as members are appointed to the joint board of health. Any joint board of mental health which is authorized to contract with a nonprofit corporation under this subsection is hereby authorized to pay the amount agreed upon in such contract with a nonprofit corporation from the proceeds of the tax levied pursuant to K.S.A. 65-212, and amendments thereto, for mental health services.

Legislative History

L. 1955, ch. 285, § 1; L. 1957, ch. 335, § 1; L. 1961, ch. 283, § 1; L. 1965, ch. 371, § 1; L. 1985, ch. 207, § 1; L. 1990, ch. 92, § 31; January 1, 1991.