50-06-05.5. Director of state-operated behavioral health clinic - Medical director

50-06-05.5. Director of state-operated behavioral health clinic - Medical director Each state-operated behavioral health clinic must be headed by a director. The state- operated behavioral health clinic director must be accountable to the commissioner of the department or the commissioner's designee. Each state-operated behavioral health clinic director may employ the staff necessary to discharge the state-operated behavioral health clinic's responsibilities. A state-operated behavioral health clinic director, subject to the approval of the commissioner of the department or the commissioner's designee, and within the limit of legislative appropriations, may make contractual arrangements with public or private agencies or with individuals and organizations to discharge the state-operated behavioral health clinic's service delivery responsibilities. Each regional director shall hire a qualified medical professional who must be designated as the medical director of the state-operated behavioral health clinic. The medical director is responsible for coordinating mental health and medically related services. The medical director's position may be part time or full time as determined appropriate by the state-operated behavioral health clinic director, with the concurrence of the commissioner of the department or the commissioner's designee. As used in this section, "qualified medical professional" means a board-eligible or board-certified psychiatrist, when such an individual can be employed, and when this is not possible, an individual possessing at least a medical degree.