Public Education & Policy :: Archive

CNMHC News Alert, June 11, 2001

AB 1421 passes out of the Assembly

Most of the mainstream mental health community, organizations representing social workers, psychologists, administrators, clients, and advocates, oppose AB 1421. The major recent reports on the issue of expanding forced treatment challenge the notions that involuntary outpatient commitment has been proven to be effective and that changing commitment laws is necessary to provide needed services to people with mental disabilities. In spite of the rational conclusions of these experts, AB 1421 easily passed out of the Assembly. The vote was 65 to 1 No, 14 abstentions.

AB 1421 is being propelled by the irrational and inaccurate myth of the violent mental patient. Assemblywoman Thomson is following the directive by the proponents of expanding forced treatment for passing bills. "Take the debate out of the mental health arena, and put it in the criminal justice/public safety arena." (From a speech by D.J.Jaffe at the 1999 NAMI Conference.) By exploiting tragedies of violence, she, the proponents of more forced treatment, and the press are whipping up a mob mentality of fear about people with mental disabilities - to pass a bill.

What Can You Do

AB 1421 now goes to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

Write to: Senator Deborah Ortiz
Chair, Senate Health and Human Services Committee
California State Senate
Room 2191
PO Box 942848
Sacramento, CA 94248-0001
916-445-5965, Fax: 916-323-2263

Also, send copies to all of the Committee's members. (Following this ALERT is contact information for all of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee members.) Letters from constituents are most valued. Letters from organizations are listed separately in the Legislative Analysis. (If you send a letter to the CNMHC office, we will copy and hand deliver it to all of the Committee Members. Please indicate with your letter if you want this service.)

Letters and calls are essential. Although many members of the committee have expressed concern about this bill, the political realities (massive and aggressive editorial support by the major media as well as the bill's promotion as "anti-violent crime" ) make it difficult for members to vote 'NO.' With enough counter-pressure, we are hopeful that we can defeat AB 1421.

Call the CNMHC or check this Web Site for latest information on when the Committee will hear the bill. The Committee meets every Wednesday at 1:30 pm, in Room 4203. The bill will be heard Wednesday, July 11.

Building a Voluntary System of Care

In the last few years, California had begun to build a voluntary client friendly mental health system. AB 334 (Steinberg), SB 931(Burton) and SB 891(Escutia) are initiatives that continue this effort. All three bills have passed out of their house of origin. In spite of the energy crisis that is depleting the state's resources, California must continue to develop quality services that are readily available. We cannot substitute coercion for "effective care that is sought voluntarily."

"SERVICES SHOULD BE ON DEMAND, NOT BY COMMAND" (Slogan from California Association of Social Rehabilitative Agencies (CASRA), a CARES Coalition member.)

~Senate Health & Human Services~

Senate Members' Capitol and District Office

(This information is accurate as of 03/28/2001)

Ortiz, Deborah, Chair (SD-6)

Health and Human Services Committee
State Capitol, Room 5114
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-7807, (916) 323-2263 Fax

1020 N Street, Ste 576
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 324-4937

5975 Birdcage Centre Lane, Ste 145
Citrus Heights, CA 95610
(916) 961-1482

Haynes, Ray, Vice Chair (SD-36)

State Capitol, Room 2187
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-9781, (916) 447-9008

6800 Indiana Avenue, Ste 130
Riverside, CA 92506
(909) 782-4111

Battin, Jim (SD-37)

State Capitol, Room 3076
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-5581, (916) 323-2263 Fax

15708 Pomerado Road, Ste N-107
Poway, CA 92064
(858) 675-8211

73-710 Fred Waring Drive, Ste 112
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 568-0408

Chesbro, Wesley (SD-2)

State Capitol, Room 4081
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-3375, (916) 323-6958 Fax

50 D Street, Ste 120-A
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(707) 576-2771

P.O. Box 785
Ukiah, CA 95482
(707) 468-8914

710 E Street, Ste 150
Eureka, CA 95501
(707) 445-6508

1040 Main Street, Ste 205
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 224-1990

Escutia, Martha (SD-30)

State Capitol, Room 5080
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 327-8315, (916) 327-8755 Fax

400 N. Montebello Blvd, Ste 101
Montebello, CA 90640
(323) 724-6175

Figueroa, Liz (SD-10)

State Capitol, Room 2057
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-6671, (916) 327-2433 Fax

43271 Mission Blvd
Fremont, CA 94539
(510) 413-5960, (408) 286-0329 Fax, (510) 413-5965

Kuehl, Sheila James (SD-23)

State Capitol, Room 4032
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-1353, (916) 324-4823 Fax

10951 W. Pico Blvd, Ste 202
Los Angeles, CA 90064

Morrow, Bill (SD-38)

State Capitol, Room 4052
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-3731

27126 A Paseo Espada, Ste 1621
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

2755 Jefferson Street, #101
Carlsbad, CA 92008
(760) 434-7930

Polanco, Richard G. (SD-22)

State Capitol, Room 313
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-3456, (916) 445-0413 Fax

300 S. Spring Street, #8710
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 620-2529

Romero, Gloria (SD-24)

State Capitol, Room 4062
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-1418, (916) 445-0485 Fax

1255 Corporate Center Drive, Ste PH-9
Monterey Park CA 19754
(323) 981-3426, (925) 280-0276

Vasconcellos, John (SD-13)

State Capitol, Room 4074
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-9740, (916) 324-0283

100 Paseo de San Antonio, Ste 209
San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 286-8318

Vincent, Edward (SD-25)

State Capitol, Room 5052
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-2104, (916) 445-3712

1 Manchester Blvd, Ste 600
Inglewood, CA 90301
(310) 412-0393