Section 41.05. Local governmental unit  


Latest version.
  • (a)  To  be  eligible  for state aid pursuant to this chapter, a local
      government shall establish a local governmental unit, which shall be  an
      identifiable entity within the local government.
        (b) Each local governmental unit shall have a community services board
      for   services   to   the   mentally  ill,  the  mentally  retarded  and
      developmentally  disabled  and  those  suffering  from  alcoholism   and
      substance  abuse  which  shall  have  separate  subcommittees for mental
      health,  mental  retardation   and   developmental   disabilities,   and
      alcoholism,  except  that,  at the discretion of the local government, a
      subcommittee for alcoholism and substance abuse may be substituted for a
      subcommittee for alcoholism.
        (c) Each local governmental unit shall have a director  who  shall  be
      its  chief executive officer. Charter governments may vest policy-making
      functions in the director or they may vest all or some of such functions
      in the board. In all other cases, the policy-making functions shall vest
      in the board.
        (d) Applications to the state for aid pursuant to this  chapter  shall
      be  made  by  the  respective  local  govermental  units, except that an
      application for capital costs may be  made  by  a  voluntary  agency  in
      accordance with the provisions of this article.
        (e)  Each  local governmental unit shall direct and administer a local
      comprehensive planning process for its geographic area, consistent  with
      established  statewide  goals  and objectives. All providers of services
      and department facilities shall participate in and  provide  information
      for  this  planning  process.  The  department  shall  provide technical
      assistance as may be requested by such local governmental units,  within
      available resources.