PRINTER'S NO. 1597
No. 108 Session of 1985
INTRODUCED BY LOEPER, JUBELIRER AND BELL, NOVEMBER 19, 1985
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, NOVEMBER 19, 1985
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Joint State Government Commission to study the
2 Mental Health Laws and the Mental Health System of this
3 Commonwealth.
4 WHEREAS, On October 30, 1985, an individual allegedly
5 committed shootings at Springfield Mall, Delaware County, which
6 resulted in the deaths of two individuals and the wounding of
7 seven others; and
8 WHEREAS, This individual had been institutionalized pursuant
9 to the act of July 9, 1976 (P.L.817, No.143), known as the
10 Mental Health Procedures Act, on twelve separate occasions
11 during the past ten years; and
12 WHEREAS, On at least two other occasions, this individual
13 allegedly committed other acts of violence; and
14 WHEREAS, Incidents like this have occurred before, not only
15 in Pennsylvania but throughout the United States; and
16 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania funds programs to
17 serve the mentally ill and operates facilities to treat such
18 persons; and
1 WHEREAS, The Mental Health Procedures Act was enacted in 1976
2 and has not had a comprehensive review to date; and
3 WHEREAS, The General Assembly has numerous bills before it
4 which would amend this act; therefore be it
5 RESOLVED (the House of Representatives concurring), That the
6 General Assembly direct the Joint State Government Commission to
7 undertake a comprehensive review of the Mental Health Procedures
8 Act and the Mental Health System in this Commonwealth; and be it
9 further
10 RESOLVED, That to accomplish this goal, a Task Force be
11 created comprised of three members of the Senate, two from the
12 majority party and one from the minority party, to be appointed
13 by the President pro tempore of the Senate and three members of
14 the House of Representatives, two from the majority party and
15 one from the minority party, to be appointed by the Speaker of
16 the House of Representatives; and be it further
17 RESOLVED, That an Advisory Committee be created to assist the
18 Task Force and that the following persons be on the Advisory
19 Committee:
20 (1) Attorney General.
21 (2) Secretary of Health.
22 (3) Secretary of Public Welfare.
23 (4) Other individuals as deemed appropriate by the Task
24 Force;
25 and be it further
26 RESOLVED, That the Task Force may hold hearings, take
27 testimony and make its investigations at such places as it deems
28 necessary in this Commonwealth. Each member of the committee
29 shall have power to administer oaths and affirmations to
30 witnesses appearing before the committee; and be it further
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1 RESOLVED, That the Task Force prepare a report containing its
2 findings and if appropriate, propose necessary corrective
3 legislation, and deliver such report to each House of the
4 General Assembly upon the conclusion of its study.
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