On Monday, April 11, the House Human Services Committee will vote to move House Bill 58 out of Committee. HB 58 proposes to amend Pennsylvania’s Mental Health Procedures Act by adding new procedures for obtaining involuntary outpatient commitment orders. The Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania (MHAPA) believes that HB 58 is incompatible with a mental health system that is consumer driven and recovery oriented. Pennsylvania cannot afford to reinvent a system for involuntary treatment that will create an overlay of an expensive, duplicative, court based system.
The members of the House Health and Human Services Committee need to hear from you this week – let them know that you oppose this legislation and request hearings about it before a vote takes place. Attached are talking points that you can use when communicating with the legislators.
Call or email Committee Chairman Gene DiGirolamo and Democratic Chair Mark Cohen and ask them to pull HB 58 from the schedule and conduct public hearings so that all interested parties have the opportunity to have their opinions heard. If your local legislator is a member of this Committee, also contact them with the same message – outlining your opposition and asking them to conduct hearings before voting on legislation that many stakeholders oppose. Click here to find Committee members.
Contact Information:
Chairman Gene DiGirolamo
Harrisburg Office: 717/783-7319
District Office: 215/750-1017
Email: gdigirol@pahousegop.com
Democratic Chair Mark Cohen
Harrisburg Office: 717/787-4117
District Office: 215/924-0895
Email: http://www.pahouse.com/contact/viaLDPC.asp?district=202
