§ 41.05 Local governmental unit.

(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 individuals with mental illness, developmental
disabilities and those suffering from alcoholism and substance abuse
which shall have separate subcommittees for mental health, 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.