(a)
Each state hospital under the jurisdiction of the State Department of State Hospitals shall have a hospital advisory board of eight members appointed by the Governor from a list of nominations submitted to him or her by the boards of supervisors of counties within each hospital’s designated service area. If a state hospital provides services for both persons with mental health disorders and persons with developmental disabilities, there shall be a separate advisory board for the program provided to persons with mental health disorders and a separate board for the program provided to persons with developmental disabilities. To the extent feasible, an advisory board serving a hospital for persons with mental health disorders shall consist of one member who has been a patient in a state hospital and two members shall be the
parents, spouse, siblings, or adult children of persons who are or have been patients in a state hospital, three representatives of different professional disciplines selected from primary user counties for patients under Part 1 (commencing with Section 5000) of Division 5, and two representatives of the general public who have demonstrated an interest in services to people with mental health disorders.
(b)
Of the members first appointed after the operative date of the amendments made to this section during the 1975–76 legislative session, one shall be appointed for a term of two years, and one for three years. Thereafter, each appointment shall be for the term of three years, except that an appointment to fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired term only. No person shall be appointed to serve more than a maximum of two terms as a member of the board.
(c)
Notwithstanding any
provision of this section, members serving on the hospital advisory board on the operative date of the amendments made to this section during the 1987–88 legislative session, may continue to serve on the board until the expiration of their term. The Legislature intends that changes in the composition of the board required by these amendments apply to future vacancies on the board.