ADVISORY BOARD BY LAWS

ARTICLE I: PURPOSE

The purpose of the North Sound Mental Health Administration (NSMHA) Advisory Board is to provide independent and objective advice to the North Sound Mental Health Administration Board of Directors and provide independent feedback to local jurisdictions and service providers.

Additionally, it is the purpose of the Advisory Board to advocate for the people we serve in the community, at the local Advisory Board, at the State Legislature and in Congress. It is our mission to promote Recovery and Resiliency in our region. The North Sound Mental Health Administration Advisory Board is established in compliance with the Interlocal Agreement Establishing A Mental Health Regional Support Network for Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom Counties executed in October 1989, and in compliance with the provisions of RCW, chapter 71.05, 71.24, 71.34 and applicable federal law and regulations.

ARTICLE II: DUTIES

The duties of the North Sound Mental Health Administration Advisory Board shall be:

1. To provide oversight regarding North Sound Mental Health Administration’s activities and to advise the North Sound Mental Health Administration Board of Directors concerning the planning, delivery and evaluation of those mental health services which promote recovery and resilience and are the responsibility of the North Sound Mental Health Administration.
2. To provide a medium for public testimony regarding mental health concerns which are the responsibility of the North Sound Mental Health Administration. The Advisory Board will cover the cost of transportation to enable consumers to appear for testimony.
3. To review and provide comment on all North Sound Mental Health Administration Strategic Plans, Quality Assurance Plans and service delivery plans and budgets, which relate to the mental health services before such plans and budgets are acted on by the North Sound Mental Health Administration Board of Directors.
4. To ensure the needs of all consumers within the region, including, but not limited to, people with special needs, the elderly, the disabled, children, Native Americans, Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) and those who are low income are met within the plans established by the North Sound Mental Health Administration Board of Directors.
5. To conduct site visits of North Sound Mental Health Administration service providers, special interest groups, Department of Social and Health Service (DSHS) agencies, private sector service providers, hospitals and community programs. Site visits are designed to provide North Sound Mental Health Advisory Board members with first hand information to provide informed recommendations to the North Sound Mental Health Administration Board of Directors.
6. To assist the North Sound Mental Health Administration with dissemination of information to the public who reside within the five (5) counties of the North Sound Mental Health Administration.
7. To perform such other duties as the North Sound Mental Health Administration Board of Directors, Department of Social and Health Services and/or Mental Health Division may require.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

1. 1. The North Sound Mental Health Administration Advisory Board shall consist of twenty-one (21) members representing each county as follows:
   

   Island County	(3)	Three
   San Juan County	(2)	Two
   Skagit County	(3)	Three
   Snohomish County	(8)	Eight
   Whatcom County	(5)	Five

2. Length of term and rotation of membership shall be determined by the code of each individual county party to the North Sound Mental Health Administration.
3. At least one (1) member from each county will be a voting member on that county’s local Mental Health Advisory Board.
4. Fifty-one (51%) percent (WAC 388-865-0222), (2) of the North Sound Mental Health Administration Advisory Board membership will be comprised of people who are, consumers, family and foster family members or caregivers, including youths, older adults, or people with a disability and/or parents of children who are emotionally disturbed, with at least one (1) representative from each county being a consumer. A representative from law enforcement shall be included in membership to the board.
5. The Mental Health Advisory Board will be representative of the demographic character of the region and the ethnicity and broader cultural aspects of consumers being served.

ARTICLE IV: APPOINTMENT

1. Representatives of each county party to the North Sound Mental Health Administration Advisory Board shall be appointed according to each county's usual and customary method of appointment.

ARTICLE V: OFFICERS

1. Officers of the North Sound Mental Health Administration Advisory Board shall include a Chair and a Vice-Chair.
2. Term of office shall be for one (1) year with the opportunity for re-nomination to serve one (1) additional term for a maximum of two (2) consecutive terms per person.
3. A slate of candidates shall be presented by the Nominating Committee annually at the November Advisory Board meeting. Elections, with nominations from the floor, shall occur at each December meeting. Officer shall assume duties beginning with the following January meeting.

ARTICLE VI: COMMITTEES

1. Standing committees of the North Sound Mental Health Administration Advisory Board shall be: Executive, Nominating, and Finance.
2. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chair, Vice-Chair, and other members-at-large (not to exceed three), appointed by the Chair.
3. The Executive Committee shall convene to hear pressing matters of business which may arise during the interval between regularly scheduled Board meetings. Any decision made by the Executive Committee shall be subject to the ratification of the full Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The Executive Committee shall review the by-laws once each calendar year.
4. Nominating Committee members shall be appointed in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.
5. The Chair may establish and appoint members to Ad-Hoc Committees as the need arises.
6. Committee appointments to the NSMHA Board Committees shall be made each January at the regular meeting of the NSMHA Advisory Board by the Chair.

ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS

1. The North Sound Mental Health Administration Advisory Board shall meet at least ten (10) times each year at a date and time mutually agreeable to members of the Board. Any regularly scheduled meeting may be canceled at the discretion of the Chair for cause.
2. Special meetings may be called by the Chair as needed and/or as requested by a minimum of one (1) member from each of three (3) of the five (5) counties party to the North Sound Mental Health Administration, by way of contact with the Chair. Special meetings shall be called within five (5) working days of the request following notice of at least forty-eight (48) hours of each member of the Advisory Board.
3. Telecommuting/video conferencing will be permitted if a board member is further than 90 minutes away, or is sick, hospitalized or caring for a family member. Two teleconferencing/video conferencing will be allowed during a calendar year. Exceptions may be granted by the Chair.
4. Committee meetings shall be held at the discretion of the Committee Chair.
5. Roberts Rules of Order shall govern all proceedings of all meetings of the North Sound Mental Health Administration Advisory Board and committees, insofar as they do not conflict or are inconsistent with the provision of these By-Laws.
6. The Board shall comply with the State of Washington Open Meetings Act.

ARTICLE VIII: QUORUM

1. The presence of at least fifty (50%) percent of the total appointed representatives from at least three (3) of the five (5) counties party to the North Sound Mental Health Administration shall constitute a quorum.
2. The Executive Committee quorum shall consist of a majority of the Executive Committee members.
3. Teleconference/video conference attendance shall be considered in the constitution of a quorum.

ARTICLE IX: RESIGNATION/TERMINATION

1. The Advisory Board Executive Committee will contact absentee members to ascertain their continued status on the Advisory Board.
2. After three (3) consecutive unexcused absences or 5 unexcused absences per calendar year, the Chair, when possible, will request that another member from the same county be appointed by the county authority as a representative to the NSMHA Advisory Board.