State Republicans tout plan for mental health funding

RICHMOND

One thing the Senate and the House agree on is paying for mental health reforms.

Still, House Republicans, who have spent the past few days noting the differences between Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's budget and theirs, turned their news releases on mental health Wednesday.

While House and Senate budget committees have approved full funding of Kaine's $42 million plan to revamp the mental health system, House leadership members emphasized that they feel their plan goes further. The House Appropriations Committee has recommended the state provide $38 million over two years to place 800 additional mentally disabled people in community care facilities.

Republicans say that's 650 more "slots" than Kaine's budget set aside. Virginia now funds 7,300 slots in community care, and there is a waiting list of about 3,800 people.

Del. Phillip Hamilton, R-Newport News, vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee, said the Virginia Tech shootings were a catalyst for this year's advances in mental health, which included another four bills inching forward Wednesday. Three bills already passed by the Senate - SB67, SB68 and SB276 - were approved unanimously by the House.

One allows parents to admit minors for inpatient treatment if the minor is incapable of giving consent. Another states that petitions for involuntary commitment of a minor should be served to the minor or a parent unless the petitions are withdrawn or dismissed. And the last increases to 96 hours the time allowed to hold a hearing for a minor's involuntary commitment or emergency admission to inpatient treatment.