A RESOLUTION

 

1Calling on the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
2study of all aspects of Pennsylvania's mental health system
3and report back with specific recommendations for amendment
4and improvement, particularly as to how criminal defendants
5with mental illness are addressed by established procedures,
6policies and programs.

7WHEREAS, Mental illness presents a persistent challenge to
8society in general as it has for centuries; and

9WHEREAS, The challenge increases when the mentally ill enter
10the criminal justice system; and

11WHEREAS, The societal response has often been to segregate
12the mentally ill from society as a whole; and

13WHEREAS, The act of July 9, 1976 (P.L.817, No.143), known as
14the Mental Health Procedures Act, represents a comprehensive and
15humane governmental response to the issue of mental illness
16generally; and

17WHEREAS, The freestanding act has been part of Pennsylvania
18law for the past 37 years; and

1WHEREAS, The act and its attendant system are in need of
2revision and updating; and

3WHEREAS, In order to determine how to best provide for
4meaningful amendment to the Mental Health Procedures Act,
5information on how the present system functions is absolutely
6necessary; therefore be it

7RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives call on the Joint
8State Government Commission to conduct a study of all aspects of
9Pennsylvania's mental health system and report back with
10specific recommendations for amendment and improvement,
11particularly as to how criminal defendants with mental illness
12are addressed by established procedures, policies and programs;
13and be it further

14RESOLVED, That the report is due within one year of the
15passage of this resolution.