Powers. The Commission may:
1. Collect and disseminate information pertaining to mental health and mental retardation and related conditions.
2. Request legislation pertaining to mental health and mental retardation and related conditions.
3. Investigate complaints about the care of any person in a public facility for the treatment of the mentally ill or mentally retarded and persons with related conditions.
4. Accept, as authorized by the Legislature, gifts and grants of money and property.
5. Take appropriate steps to increase the availability of and to enhance the quality of the care and treatment of the mentally ill and mentally retarded and persons with related conditions provided through state agencies, hospitals and clinics.
6. Promote programs for the treatment of the mentally ill and mentally retarded and persons with related conditions and participate in and promote the development of facilities for training persons to provide services for the mentally ill and mentally retarded and persons with related conditions.
7. Create a plan to coordinate the services for the treatment of the mentally ill and the mentally retarded and persons with related conditions provided in this state and to provide continuity in the care and treatment provided.
8. Establish and maintain an appropriate program which provides information to the general public concerning mental illness and mental retardation and related conditions and consider ways to involve the general public in the decisions concerning the policy on mental illness and mental retardation and related conditions.
9. Compile statistics on mental illness and study the cause, pathology and prevention of that illness.
10. Establish programs to prevent or postpone the commitment of residents of this state to facilities for the treatment of the mentally ill and mentally retarded and persons with related conditions.
11. Evaluate the future needs of this state concerning the treatment of mental illness and mental retardation and related conditions and develop ways to improve the treatment already provided.
12. Take any other action necessary to promote mental health in this state.
Last modified: February 27, 2006