Kasich signs bill on local mental health boards

Ohio Gov. John Kasich on Dec. 22 signed Senate Bill 71 into law.

The bill — sponsored by state Sen. Gayle Manning, a North Ridgeville Republican — permits county mental health boards to authorize their county directors to enter into contracts for routine administrative and treatment functions in amounts up to $25,0000 before approval from the board is required, according to a Dec. 27 news release from Manning’s office.

Manning praised improving the efficiency of county mental boards and the communities they serve.

“Our mental health professionals need flexibility during crises in order to effectively deliver critical services and carry out their missions,” Manning said. “I am pleased that Gov. Kasich has taken swift action and signed this into law so that our local boards can continue to provide much needed services for fighting the opioid epidemic and addressing community needs.”

According to the release, previous law had been interpreted to mean that a formal resolution of the board must be passed to approve every contract prior to the contract being signed by the executive director.

The provisions in Senate Bill 71 aim to put mental health boards in line with the duties and process of other political subdivisions and local government agencies while also maintaining all appropriate limitations on the executive director’s fiscal power, the release said.

“The previous process had created administrative burdens, slowing down the efficiency of our Board and causing the Board of Directors to devote time to establishing or amending contracts related to office and operations instead of focusing on issues related to community behavioral health services,” said Kathleen Kern, executive director of the Lorain County Board of Mental Health.