(a) There is an Access to Mental Health Advisory Committee.
(b) The Committee consists of the following members:
(1) The Secretary of Higher Education, or the Secretary’s designee;
(2) The Chancellor of the University System of Maryland, or the Chancellor’s designee;
(3) The President of St. Mary’s College of Maryland, or the President’s designee;
(4) The President of Morgan State University, or the President’s designee;
(5) The Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Community Colleges, or the Executive Director’s designee;
(6) The President of the Maryland Independent College and University Association, or the President’s designee;
(7) Two Directors of the University System of Maryland Institution Mental Health Counseling Centers, appointed by the Chancellor;
(8) Two University System of Maryland Institution clinical psychologists, appointed by the Chancellor;
(9) Two licensed clinical social workers with campus–based clinical experience, appointed by the Secretary;
(10) Two behavioral health counselors from a community college, appointed by the Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Community Colleges;
(11) A behavioral health counselor from a nonpublic institution of higher education in the State, appointed by the President of the Maryland Independent College and University Association;
(12) Two University System of Maryland student representatives:
(i) One student who is a member of a mental health advocacy group; and
(ii) One student who has accessed, or is eligible to access, mental health services at the institution; and
(13) One student representative enrolled in St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Morgan State University, a community college, or a nonprofit institution of higher education in the State.
(c) (1) The Committee shall elect a chair from among its members.
(2) The Committee may elect other officers as determined by the Committee.
(d) The staff for the Committee shall be provided on a rotating basis by the institutions of higher education that have members on the Committee.
(e) The Committee shall meet six times per year.
(f) A member of the Committee:
(1) May not receive compensation as a member of the Committee; but
(2) Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.
(g) The Committee shall:
(1) Study the policies and procedures adopted by institutions of higher education in the State regarding access to mental health care and the prevention and treatment of mental illness in students;
(2) Examine the challenges for institutions of higher education in meeting the demand for mental health services;
(3) Review best practices for accessing off–campus mental health services;
(4) Review best practices for, and barriers to, the implementation of counseling services, including crisis, personal, mental health, sexual violence, and substance abuse counseling;
(5) Review and identify the best models for providing mental health services, including stand–alone centers, centers with integrated student health services, comprehensive services, case management, and crisis resources;
(6) Identify concerns in rural areas and workforce shortage areas;
(7) Make recommendations regarding:
(i) Ways to reduce costs and barriers to providing access to mental health services on campus;
(ii) The use of telemedicine and video conferencing in the provision of mental health services;
(iii) The use of hotlines and other means to disseminate to students information related to mental health services on and off campus, including information concerning availability and fees; and
(iv) The implementation of general mental health counseling services and specialized counseling services; and
(8) Study and make recommendations regarding any other matters the Committee considers appropriate.
(h) On or before December 1, 2023, the Committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, the House Ways and Means Committee, and the House Appropriations Committee.