HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2153

COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH and the alcoholism coordinator shall
be ex officio members of the council. The alcoholism
coordinator shall attend at least one local council meeting
per year. The [local] health officer OR, IN BALTIMORE CITY,
THE BALTIMORE CITY COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH shall provide
staff services to the council and facilitate the work of the
council in every way possible.

Two or more counties by agreement of the governing
bodies concerned and upon the consent of the director of the
alcoholism control administration with the approval of the
Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, may establish an
intercounty advisory council, if the population of one of
the counties is too small to warrant establishment of an
independent program.

The provisions of this subsection (a) shall not apply
in any county which, as of [the effective date of this act]
JULY 1, 1977, has an existing council, advisory board, or
other body established by law or ordinance, which as its
sole responsibility, reviews policies and programs for the
treatment of drug abuse and alcoholism and which makes
recommendations to the appropriate health officials
concerning those policies and programs.

(c) The function of each district alcoholism advisory
council shall be to:

(2) Advise and report annually to the [local]
health officer OR BALTIMORE CITY COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, the
appropriate governing body, and through the alcoholism
coordinator to the director of the alcoholism control
administration on progress of the local alcoholism control
program and of actions needed for further improvements;

Article 43 - Health

1J.

(c) (1) The governing body of each county and of
Baltimore City shall establish a mental health advisory
committee and appoint the members of it. Membership shall
consist of one representative from each of the following
categories: the local governing body, the department of
education, the department of social services, the practicing
physicians, other mental health professionals, the clergy,
the legal profession, the mental health association, where
one exists, an individual who has or is receiving mental
health care, an individual who is a relative of a mental
health care recipient, and at least three members
representing the community. The term of office of each
member is three years commencing from the first day of July
of the year of appointment except that of the members first
appointed one third shall be appointed for a term of two
years and one third for a term of one year. Members who
have served two consecutive full terms may not be eligible
for reappointment for a period of three years following
completion of their terms. The officers of the committee
shall be elected annually by the membership and the