(Host) The House at this hour is considering legislation that’s designed to strengthen community based mental health services across the state.
The most controversial part of the bill deals with the future of the Vermont State Hospital – a 50 bed facility that was damaged during tropical storm Irene in late August. Since then the Shumlin Administration has scrambled to relocate patients in several parts of the state.
House Human Services chairperson Ann Pugh says the destructive force of Irene offers the state an unusual opportunity:
(Pugh) "We’ve been talking about how to transform our mental health system in Vermont ever since I’ve been a legislator and probably before then as well. And we now have an unprecedented opportunity growing out of the crisis that Irene gave us in terms of the need to evacuate the Vermont State Hospital."
(Host) The bill calls for the construction of a new 25 bed building in central Vermont. The governor opposes this section of the legislation because he’s concerned that the federal government will not match state funds for any facility that’s larger than 16 beds.
Pugh says the state really does need the larger facility:
(Pugh) "We now have the opportunity to restructure the system in a manner that both strengthens community based services and provides in patient care where and when it is needed so that Vermonters get the treatment and security and safety they need and communities get the outcomes that they need."
(Host) It’s expected that the House will give its approval to the legislation later today and the governor says he’ll try to convince the Senate to support his ideas.