Currently, a large portion of the high-security beds are occupied by people facing non-violent misdemeanor criminal charges who need to be restored to mental competency. The DeWine administration wants to give courts the ability to send non-violent defendants to step-down facilities for treatment when appropriate, leaving the secure beds for violent patients.
Related: DeWine wants more state psych beds open for violent people
State Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, started work on SB58 before the Aug. 4 mass shooting in Dayton but it fits with DeWine’s 17-point plan. Gavarone said a common complaint is that there aren’t enough secure psychiatric beds for those suffering from the most severe mental illnesses.
The bill calls for sending low-level misdemeanor offenders to other treatment programs. State Sen. Cecil Thomas, D-Cincinnati, said he opposes the legislation because it doesn’t outline what those other programs are.
Related: DeWine outlines plan to tackle gun violence
Related: A look at changes to Ohio's gun laws over the years
Major parts of DeWine’s plan — expanding the use of Ohio’s ‘pink slip’ process to force hospitalization of troubled people and creating a voluntary state-run background check for gun purchases — are being carried in a separate bill sponsored by state Sen. Matt Dolan, R-Chagrin Falls.
Related: 10 years after psych hospital closing: ‘It’s inhumane how they are being treated - it’s not right’
The bill now moves to the Ohio House for consideration.
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