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MARVIN MANDEL, Governor 2841
the Mental Retardation Administration must have an
individualized plan of care developed in writing by
professional and supportive personnel. The bill also
requires that these plans be reevaluated periodically.
The Director of Mental Retardation is made responsible
for the implementation of these plans, subject to budget
appropriation, and is required to issue "appropriate
directives to carry out the intent of (the bill)."
I am advised by the Mental Retardation
Administration that approximately 51% of the patients in
its facilities have individualized plans of care, and
that such plans can and will be developed, even without
this bill, for another 15% of the patients from within
existing appropriations.
However, the bill requires not only the development
of plans for every patient, but also their
implementation, by March 1, 1977. The estimated cost of
compliance with this directive, according to the Fiscal
Note prepared by the Department of Fiscal Research (which
was taken from and confirmed by the Mental Retardation
Administration) is $7.5 million for Fiscal Year 1977,
rising to $9.5 million by Fiscal Year 1981. Obviously,
there are no funds in the State Budget for Fiscal Year
1977 to implement this bill.
I am aware that the directive to implement the bill
is "subject to budget appropriation"; but I think we
would be less than fair and candid to mandate a program
such as this with full knowledge that the State is in no
position to carry it out. Here again, if the General
Assembly wants to legislate a program of this magnitude
it should provide the funds necessary for its
implementation.
The development of individualized care plans can
proceed, as it has in the past, without this legislation;
and I will request the Mental Retardation Administration
to prepare a program for their implementation consistent
with what the State can afford.
For these reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 1460.
Sincerely,
Marvin Mandel
Governor
House Bill No. 1462 - Bond Issue for Lyric Theatre
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