The legislature has many bills before it that would make it easier for the state to force someone into mental health treatment (mandatory outpatient treatment). For example, HB 699 (Hope) limits the ability of a person to seek rescission of an order for treatment and HB 700 (Hope) eliminates the requirement that a person must agree to cooperate in the treatment. We are currently reviewing these bills and conferring with other advocacy groups.
Here are some other bills of interest to the mental health community:
HB 280 (Hope) and SB 116 (Favola) would eliminate the possibility of the death penalty in cases of serious mental illness. dLCV supports this legislation.
HB 362 (Rasoul) allows physicians assistants to make a determination that an individual lacks decision making capacity.
HB 74 (Kory) requires schools to develop Mental Health First Aid training programs.
SB 619 (Deeds) requires that Mental Health First Aid be included in teacher licensing.
If you know of something going on in the legislature that you think we should be following, please let us know. Contact us at info@dlcv.org or by calling 1-800-552-3962 or 804-225-2042.
The mission of the disAbility Law Center of Virginia is to advance independence, choice and self-determination; protect legal, human and civil rights; and eliminate abuse, neglect and discrimination of people with disabilities through zealous and uncompromising legal advocacy and representation.