(March 30, 2017) The Kentucky Senate and House voted last night to override Governor Bevin's veto of Tim's Law (SB 91), at last addressing gaps in the state's system for the most vulnerable citizens with serious mental illness.
Tim's Law is a significant leap forward toward better care for those individuals unable to recognize the severity of their condition.
"This was a hard-fought victory by family members who demand better tools to help their loved ones," said John Snook, executive director of the Treatment Advocacy Center. "Today we honor the tremendous advocacy of Faye Morton and the memory of her son Tim."
Faye Morton, mother of Tim Morton, and Sheila A. Schuster, Ph.D., Advocacy Action Network/Credit: WDRBThe measure will make a significant difference for the hundreds of Kentuckians who live with SMI — stopping the high-cost, revolving door treatment, keeping them out of hospitals and jails, and helping them live safely in the community.
We are grateful for the countless families and advocates in the Commonwealth who worked diligently for years to see Tim's Law become a reality.
In addition, we thank the Kentucky legislature for seeing the importance of Tim's Law and for coming together in a bipartisan way to provide better care for Kentuckians with serious mental illness.
Following the governor's veto, the Treatment Advocacy Center weighed in on the issue with an op-ed in the Lousiville Courier-Journal. ("Gov. ignores guardianship crisis with veto," March 28)