The
Assembly version of the law to reform the discriminatory
practice of placing liens on the patients of State and
County Psychiatric Hospitals and their families, A3639,
was unanimously passed by the Assembly Senior Issues and
Community Services Committee yesterday. The Committee
added a NAMI NEW JERSEY supported amendment that underscored
the legislations intent to provide free or greatly reduced
cost treatment to consumers of mental health services
in the same manner as treatment is provided
for other illnesses under Charity Care.
The
many family members, consumers and friends of people with
a mental illness that make up the NAMI NEW JERSEY
Advocacy Network deserve a hearty round of congratulations.
A particular thank you goes out to Assemblyman Reed Gusciora,
the bills prime co-sponsor and Committee member Ken LeFevre,
a co-sponsor who fought to have the bill passed by the
Committee so that it would be ready to go to the Assembly
floor for a vote. Melvin Cottrell, the Chairman
of the Committee also deserves a round of thanks for his
judicious and understanding management of the committee
proceedings that allowed this vital legislation to move
forward.
IMMEDIATE
ACTION NEEDED!
The
current legislative session is quickly drawing to a close
and the companion bill S2341 must be heard in the Senate
Senior Issues, Veteran's Affairs and Human Services Committee
before it can go before the full Senate. The Committee
chair, Senator Cafiero is a co-sponsor of our bill but
he has not scheduled his committee to meet and hear the
bill before the end of the current session. WE
MUST CONTACT SENATOR CAFIERO IMMEDIATELY
and implore him to convene the Senate Senior Issues,
Veteran's Affairs and Human Services Committee so that
S2341 , the Lien Law can be heard and moved forward to
the full Senate.
Senator James S. Cafiero (609)-522-0462
SenCafiero@njleg.org
