December 1, 2004

LIEN LAW SCHEDULED FOR SENATE HEARING !

The Lien Law S880/A779 will be heard by the Senate Budget and Appropriations on Monday, December 6 on the heals of the Assembly hearing on December 2. This law would end the discriminatory practice of placing liens for the full cost of care on patients who are hospitalized at state and county psychiatric hospitals and certain members of their family. Passage by the Senate and Assembly committees would position the Lien Law for votes by the full legislature when they reconvene in January.

Thanks to the work of NAMI NEW JERSEY advocates, Committee Chair, Senator Wayne Bryant has prioritized S880 for action in the committee’s only scheduled meeting for the remainder of the year.

IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED

Advocates should immediately contact the members of the Senate Budget and Appropriations and ask them to support S880, especially if you are a resident of their district (see the list below).

TALKING POINTS

We must end state sponsored discrimination towards person with a mental illness

End the practice of placing automatic liens.

Charge patients on their ability to pay using the Charity Care sliding fee scale, the same as any other illness.

Exempt the parents of adult children from any financial obligation.

Protect the assets the spouse of an individual hospitalized in a public psychiatric hospital.

Provide a provision for retroactively removing past liens.

If you would like to testify before the committee or attend and show your support ( it helps), the hearing will be held in Committee Room 4, 1st Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ.

Directions: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/directions.asp

CONTACT INFORMATION

Telephone numbers for the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee members are listed below. For more complete contact and district information go to: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/committees/senate.asp

Wayne Bryant - Chair (856) 757-0552, Sharpe James - Vice-Chair (973) 622-0007, Martha Bark (856) 234-8080, Anthony Bucco (973) 627-9700, Barbara Buono (732) 819-8141, Joseph Coniglio (201) 576-9199, Joseph Doria (201) 451-5100, Walter Kavanaugh (908) 526-4222, Thomas Kean (908) 232-3673, Bernard Kenny (201) 653-1466, Leonard Lance (908) 788-6900, Robert Littell (973) 827-2900, Paul Sarlo (201) 804-8118, Steven Sweeney (856) 251-9801.

A huge debt of thanks to S880 sponsor and committee member Shirley Turner (609) 530-3277.