GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1519

Short Title:  Mental Health Services for Deaf Funds. 	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives H. Hunter; Flaherty, Sexton, Bowman, Jeffus, McLawhorn, Adams, Colton, J. Preston, McCrary, Culp, and Fitch.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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May 25, 1994

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO PROVIDE EQUAL ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR DEAF PEOPLE.
Whereas, access to mental health services for persons who are deaf has been largely ineffective due to the lack of professionals qualified to serve the deaf and the difficulty of providing appropriate mental health services through third party interpreters; and
Whereas, persons who are deaf experience a higher than average incidence of emotional and mental disorders; and
Whereas, a settlement agreement to provide these mental health services exists between the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services and the North Carolina Association of the Deaf; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Human Resources, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, the sum of one hundred forty-five thousand dollars ($145,000) for the 1994-95 fiscal year to implement the Long Range Plan for Mental Health Services for the Deaf in accordance with a compliance agreement between the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services and the North Carolina Association of the Deaf.  These funds will be used to develop a 20-bed unit for the deaf at Dorothea Dix Hospital.
Sec. 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1994.