The bill would require the Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner to adopt rules establishing the roles and responsibilities of local mental retardation authorities, and to develop an implementation plan for a new payment methodology for mental health services.

It is assumed that the Commission would not actually implement a change in the payment methodology, but rather develop a proposal that would be delivered to the Legislature.  A change in the actual payment methodology could result in a cost or savings to the Department of State Health Services.

In addition, the Department of State Health Services may reimburse the Local Authority Network Advisory Committee members who are consumers of mental health services and family members of individuals with mental health needs appointed to the committee for travel costs incurred as provided in the General Appropriations Act.

The Health and Human Services Commission anticipates any additional work resulting from the passage of the bill could be reasonably absorbed within current resources.

There would be some costs to a local mental health authority to develop a local network development plan as required by Section 4 of the bill.