Wednesday, April 07, 2004

Mental health bill reaches final hurdle (Nebraska)
Omaha World Herald story - "Once viewed as one of the most controversial measures of the 2004 legislative session, Gov. Mike Johanns' mental health restructuring proposal needed only a voice vote for second-round approval Tuesday. Only one more vote remains before Legislative Bill 1083 is sent to Johanns' desk. The bill calls for closing two of Nebraska's three mental hospitals, in Norfolk and Hastings, after more community-based services are developed across the state. Lawmakers from the Norfolk and Hastings areas at first opposed the measure, but they relented after proponents agreed that the two hospitals would not be closed before their populations were reduced to 20 percent - and a final sign-off was obtained from legislative leaders."