By-Laws and Procedures

I. PURPOSE

1. The Advisory Committee is established pursuant to the terms of the Legislative Bill 25, passed in 1995.
2. The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to:
   1. Provide guidance to the Mental Health Specialist position for the development and monitoring of mental health and substance abuse services.
   2. Review the monthly activities reported by the Mental Health Specialist.
   3. Establish goals and recommendations for the state.
   4. Render assistance when requested in attending various organizational meetings either with the Mental Health Specialist or in her/his absence.

II. ORGANIZATION

1. The voting membership of the Advisory Committee will be appointed with the approval of the Board of Directors of the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. They shall include a total of five voting members chosen from the following areas:
   1. Three counselors familiar with mental health, alcoholism and drug abuse disorders in deaf or hard of hearing people as voting members.
   2. Two human service professionals as voting members.
   3. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Commission shall each have a representative who serves on the committee in a non-voting technical capacity.
   4. The Board may include Ad-Hoc committee members in a non-voting capacity.
2. The appointed membership of the Advisory Committee terms of service:
   1. Members shall be appointed for a three-year term.
   2. Members may serve for two consecutive terms. After the second consecutive term, members must sit out one calendar years before being appointed to the board again as a voting member. The two consecutive term limit will then start over for that person.
   3. When a members term has expired they can continue to serve on the committee until the position has been filled.
   4. If a member is appointed to fill an unexpired term, the two consecutive term limit shall not apply to that person for the unexpired term only if there are 17 calendar months or less for that unexpired term.
   5. If there is a vacancy or resignation on the Advisory Committee, the Commission shall appoint a new member to complete the term of the vacant position.
   6. A member of the Advisory Committee may be removed by the Commission if: a. He/She misses three (3) consecutive meetings without just cause.
   7. Any vacancy of a Advisory Committee must be publicized by the Commission and reported to related organizations. The vacancy must be left open for 30 calendar days. A good faith effort should also be made to ensure that at least two of the voting members are Deaf or Hard of Hearing whenever a vacancy exists.
   8. Resignation by a member is requested in writing and submitted to the Commission.
   9. Ad-Hoc members and Technical Advisors may be selected by the NCDHH Full Commission members to provide additional expertise.
3. Chairperson
   1. The chairperson of the Advisory Committee shall be elected by the Advisory Committee membership for a term of one year.
   2. Elections shall be held during the first three months of the year.
   3. The Chairperson’s duties are to open the meeting, welcome everyone, begin introductions, keep the meeting moving and focused, call for a vote, vote if there is a tie, and close the meeting.
   4. The Mental Health Advisory Committee may nominate individuals for chairpersons other than Ad-Hoc and Technical Advisors, and the NCDHH Board will vote on the Chairperson nomination.

III. MEETINGS

1. Meetings will occur quarterly and every effort will be made to arrange for a time and place convenient to most of the members.
2. The Commission will make the room arrangements and provide interpreters.
3. A quorum shall be a simple majority (3) of the five voting Advisory Committee members.
4. NCDHH will notify related organizations of future meetings at least 14 calendar days before the meeting with the agenda. If an emergency meeting is necessary the organizations shall be notified by telephone at least 24 hours in advance.

Bylaws amended and approved by the NCDHH Board on January 18, 2008