(20 ILCS 1340/20)

Sec. 20. Steering Committee and Networks.

(a) To achieve these goals, the Department of Human Services shall convene a Regional Integrated Behavioral Health Networks Steering Committee (hereinafter "Steering Committee") comprised of State agencies involved in the provision, regulation, or financing of health, mental health, substance use disorder, rehabilitation, and other services. These include, but shall not be limited to, the following agencies:

(1) The Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

(2) The Department of Human Services and its Divisions of Mental Illness and Substance Use Prevention and Recovery.

(3) The Department of Public Health, including its Center for Rural Health.

The Steering Committee shall include a representative from each Network. The agencies of the Steering Committee are directed to work collaboratively to provide consultation, advice, and leadership to the Networks in facilitating communication within and across multiple agencies and in removing regulatory barriers that may prevent Networks from accomplishing the goals. The Steering Committee collectively or through one of its member Agencies shall also provide technical assistance to the Networks.

(b) There also shall be convened Networks in each of the Department of Human Services' regions comprised of representatives of community stakeholders represented in the Network, including when available, but not limited to, relevant trade and professional associations representing hospitals, community providers, public health care, hospice care, long term care, law enforcement, emergency medical service, physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants trained in psychiatry; an organization that advocates on behalf of federally qualified health centers, an organization that advocates on behalf of persons suffering with mental illness and substance use disorders, an organization that advocates on behalf of persons with disabilities, an organization that advocates on behalf of persons who live in rural areas, an organization that advocates on behalf of persons who live in medically underserved areas; and others designated by the Steering Committee or the Networks. A member from each Network may choose a representative who may serve on the Steering Committee.

(Source: P.A. 99-581, eff. 1-1-17; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18; 100-759, eff. 1-1-19.)