ATLANTA — Dozens of critics to the new Mental Health Reform bill crowded into a State Senate subcommittee Wednesday to voice their opposition to the proposed legislation, though many bill supporters said those critics are engaging in wild conspiracy theories about things not in that bill.
“At the end of the day, you’ve got to see what we’re trying to accomplish,” said State Rep. Todd Jones (R-Cumming), one of the bill’s sponsors.
The bill, authored by Republican House Speaker David Ralston, would overhaul Georgia’s aging mental health care system.
Among other things, it would give mental health parity with how the state treats physical health. It also reallocates state funds to treat mental health in all 159 Georgia counties. It creates work force development to help place those struggling with mental illness.
The bill also has the support of law enforcement agencies, Georgia health care systems along with Georgia pediatricians.
But critics insist the bill also gives the government the right to confiscate guns, would place Georgia health care under the auspices of the World Health Organization, and is nothing more than, according to one protestor, a Stacey Abrams trojan horse to institute more government control over health care.
Jones said none of that is true.
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“There is absolutely no intent to change the firearms laws in this bill whatsoever,” Jones said. “I think we need to be able to sit down and have a cogent conversation about what’s in this bill and what’s not in the bill.”
State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), is the bill’s other sponsor.
“After two years work, there’s enormous good, substantive list of reforms for the mental health system,” Oliver said. “We’re used to, in this place, a lot of drama and a lot of misinformation, and it’s a process where we eventually get to a product that we can live with.”
The bill passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan supporter. There were only three Nay votes.
Ralston believes something happened after House passage, and he’s concerned it’s a well-funded attack on him as well as his bill.
“I haven’t really identified yet where it’s coming from, but it’s interesting that all the talking points are identical,” Ralston said. “It suggests to me that there’s some funding behind this, some dark, hidden funding. I suspect there are a few of these people who view this as a way to attack me. That’s fine. I’ve been attacked before. I’m still standing.”
That Senate subcommittee will hear the bill again next week.
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