Legal Authority:

On July 31, 2001, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution 2001-281 which established the Behavioral Health Board by consolidating the Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board and the Mental Health Board; Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5604 and Health and Safety Code Section 11964. Bylaws amended on June 8, 2021 to include youth member provision and amended on September 12, 2023 adding that one member shall be a veteran. Bylaws amended on January 6, 2026 reduced the number of board members from 16 to a total of 11, with ten (10) members appointed in equal numbers by the Board of Supervisors and one (1) one member of the Board of Supervisors (and alternate) to serve a one-year term.

Membership Qualifications:

The members of the Behavioral Health Board consist of the following: One (1) member of the Board of Supervisors. Ten (10) members appointed by the Board of Supervisors. At least 50 percent (6 members) of the total membership shall be consumers, parents, spouses, siblings, or children of consumers who are receiving or have received behavioral health services; at least twenty percent (3 members) shall be consumers; at least twenty percent (3 members) shall be family members of consumers. One member shall be between the ages of 16 and 25. One member shall be a veteran. One member must be an employee of a local education agency. Must be a resident of Kern County.

Term:

Three-year staggered term with no more than two (2) consecutive full terms to be served. Terms will be designated from January 1 through December 31. The Board of Supervisors representative shall be a Board member and serve on an annual rotating basis, with representation cycling in numerical order through all five supervisorial districts (Districts 1 through 5), and an alternate Board member appointed annually from the subsequent district in the rotation.

Duties:

The Behavioral Health Board is established as an advisory body to the Board of Supervisors and to the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Department. The Board's duties are • those prescribed in Section 5604.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code • those prescribed by County Ordinance or Resolution and/or transferred to the Board by specific order of the Board of Supervisors

Meeting Place and Time:

Meetings are held the fourth Monday of each month, except July and December, from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. All meetings of the Board, and any committee meeting representing a quorum of the Board, shall be a public meeting in accordance with the California Open Meeting Law.

Meeting Schedule/Agenda/Minutes

Compensation:

Board members shall serve without compensation except as provided in Section 5604.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. Requests for actual and necessary expenses shall be submitted to the Director of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services..

Ethics Training:

Pursuant to State law, on or after January 1, 2006, any person newly appointed shall successfully complete a course in ethics training approved by the Fair Political Practices Commission and Attorney General. Each member is required to complete this training every two years.

Contact:

Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Department
2001 28th Street
Bakersfield, CA 93301
(661) 868-6641
administration-magonzalez@kernbhrs.org

Required Documents/Training:

• Loyalty Oath not required
• Form 700 (Statement of Economic Interests) required; filed with Clerk of the Board
• Ethics training required; training provided by Kern County Counsel