Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Lauds Senate Passage of Mental Health Reforms, Sprinklers in Group Homes
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt applauded the Missouri Senate for giving first round approval to Senator Michael Gibbon's mental health reform legislation. Senate Bill 3 implements recommendations of Gov. Blunt's Mental Health Task Force and includes a requirement for sprinklers in state-licensed residential care facilities and assisted living facilities.
"The Mental Health Task Force was charged with rooting out abuses and system failures in Missouri's mental health system. They performed a thorough review and were fortunate to have the input of clients, families, providers and other advocates from across our state as they considered improvements to better serve Missourians with mental health needs," Blunt said. "I commend the Senate on their work to strengthen our mental health delivery system and for further enhancing the safety for Missouri's mental health clients."
The governor established the Mental Health Task Force in June of 2006 in response to tragic instances of abuse and neglect that led to the needless deaths of mental health clients. The task force provided 25 recommendations to the governor, many of which have already been acted on administratively or by executive order. Senate Bill 3 includes the following provisions:
- Increase the penalty for a mandated reporter not reporting abuse or neglect from an infraction, to a class A misdemeanor and imposes sanctions and penalties on providers who prevent or discourage the reporting of abuse and neglect (Recommendation #7);
- Increase the penalty that community providers face for not correcting problems cited by DMH (Department of Mental Health) in licensing (Recommendation #6);
- Give civil immunity to employees of the department and contract providers who engage in discussion with the intent to help ensure that facilities and providers are aware of past history of potential employees that might create a danger to clients (Recommendation #14);
- Establish a state panel to review all suspicious deaths of clients of the Department of Mental Health (Recommendation #15); and
- Create the crime of "vulnerable person abuse" (Recommendation #23).
The legislation must be read a third time and passed in the Senate before being sent to the House of Representatives.