(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the Commissioners of Mental Health and of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living shall, within the limits of funds designated by the Legislature for this purpose, ensure that community services to persons with a mental condition or psychiatric disability and persons with a developmental disability throughout the State are provided through designated community mental health agencies. The Commissioners shall designate public or private nonprofit agencies to provide or arrange for the provision of these services.

(b) Within the limits of available resources, each designated community mental health or developmental disability agency shall plan, develop, and provide or otherwise arrange for those community mental health or developmental disability services that are not assigned by law to the exclusive jurisdiction of another agency and which are needed by and not otherwise available to persons with a mental condition or psychiatric disability or a developmental disability or children and adolescents with a severe emotional disturbance in accordance with the provisions of 33 V.S.A. chapter 43 who reside within the geographic area served by the agency. (Added 1979, No. 108 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1987, No. 264 (Adj. Sess.), § 11; 2005, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 47; 2007, No. 15, § 15; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 115.)