Section 4302 - Establishment of County Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Board(a) Except in cities of the first class, the local authorities of a county or of two or more counties participating in concert in a county mental health and intellectual disability program shall appoint a Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Board, hereinafter called the board, which shall consist of thirteen residents including, from each county, a representative of the board of county commissioners. At least two members thereof shall be physicians, and where possible one shall be a psychiatrist and the other a pediatrician. There shall also be appropriate representation drawn from:(1) The professional fields of psychology, social work, nursing, education and religion;(2) Local citizens' organizations active in the field of mental health;(3) Local citizens' organizations active in the field of intellectual disability;(4) Local health and welfare planning organizations;(5) Local general hospitals; and(6) Other interested community groups. Where two or more counties are participating in concert in said program, the members of said board shall be selected substantially on a proportionate basis as to population, providing however that each county, irrespective of population, shall have at least one member on the board.
(b) Each member shall be appointed for a period of three years. The initial appointment of members of the board shall be for overlapping periods of three, two and one years. In making the initial appointments, in so far as possible, one-third of the members shall be appointed to each of the overlapping periods. Any vacancies occurring in the membership of the board shall be filled by the local authorities for the unexpired period. The local authorities may remove any member of the board during his period of service for cause only. The members shall serve without compensation other than reimbursement for travel and other actual expenses incurred in connection with called meetings of the board.(c) A majority of the board members shall constitute a quorum. The members shall select a chairman from among themselves. Each board shall meet at least once each quarter, and may, by majority vote of the membership, establish more frequent regular meetings not exceeding one per month. Special meetings shall be held on call of the chairman, and it shall be the duty of the chairman to call a special meeting upon the written request of one-third or more of the members, not including vacancies of the board.(d) In cities of the first class, a mental health and intellectual disability board shall be appointed, and the members shall hold office, under the provisions of the city charter.1966, Special Sess. No. 3, Oct. 20, P.L. 96, art. III, § 302, effective 1/1/1967. Amended 2011, Nov. 22, P.L. 420, No. 105, § 2, imd. effective.