Paul Golden: Laura’s Law makes sense for taxpayers and for the mentally ill

Re “Laura’s Law considered for Stanislaus County” (Front page, Nov. 21): On Oct. 16, at NAMI Stanislaus, there was a hugely well attended meeting to discuss Laura’s Law, in particular implementing it in Stanislaus County. Members from the Modesto police department, the legislature, the press, NAMI, mental health providers, “consumers” (those of us with mental health problems) and family members were in attendance.

Laura’s Law is legislation from 2002 to help counties minimize hospitalizations for the seriously mentally ill by diverting them to outpatient programs. This is fiscally sound, keeps people off the streets, keeps the seriously mentally ill out of jails and out of hospitals. The program is well established in Nevada and Contra Costa counties. The speaker said that from conception to implementation in Contra Costa County took four years. Because of bureaucracy finding the cost benefits through the Freedom of Information Act finally convinced county supervisors. Some of the money to implement Laura’s Law surely should come from the “Millionaire’s Tax,” or Proposition 63, passed in 2004. There are problems with that law, but that’s another story.

This story was originally published November 21, 2016 at 5:31 PM with the headline "Paul Golden: Laura’s Law makes sense for taxpayers and for the mentally ill."