SB 6319.E - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Revises the placement responsibilities for persons in the state mental health system.

     Requires funding for mental health programs to be used for persons with primary diagnosis of mental illness and separate appropriations be used for other types of disabilities or disorders.

     Requires the development of a system of more integrated service delivery.

     Provides incentives to reduce reliance on inappropriate patient care.

VETO MESSAGE ON SB 6319

                   April 2, 1992

To the Honorable, the Senate

  of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am returning herewith, without my approval as to sections 4 and 7, Engrossed Senate Bill No. 6319 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to the placement of people with disabilities."

     Existing law mandates that regional support networks receive a portion of state mental hospital funds when they assume new responsibilities for short-term involuntary commitments.  The Department of Social and Health Services and the regional support networks have been working for months to establish a formula to implement this funding change.

     The language in section 4 creates a right to "any savings" achieved through reduction in use of hospital beds.  This is not feasible to administer since it would require constant readjustment according to bed day use or some other factor.  Neither regional support networks nor the state would retain any certainty as to their budgets.  Unfair allocations between regions would be created.  The effect would be a potential for ongoing litigation and tension between mental health regional support networks and the Department of Social and Health Services.

     I am pleased with the remarkable achievements of the regional support networks and the Department of Social and Health Services in implementing mental health reform.  The type of mandate contained in section 4 of this bill could interfere with that collaborative effort.

     Section 7 of the bill would repeal statutes intended to be addressed in section 4.

     For these reasons, I have vetoed sections 4 and 7 of Engrossed Senate Bill No. 6319.

     With the exception of sections 4 and 7, Engrossed Senate Bill No. 6319 is approved.

                   Respectfully submitted,

                   Booth Gardner

                   Governor