Ohio bill aims to change laws for mental health treatment [Video]

TOLEDO, Ohio — An Ohio bill in its early stages is getting mixed reviews throughout the state.

House Bill 249 would change the current laws regarding mental health treatment, as it would make changes to the law regarding law enforcement “pink slipping” individuals for involuntary treatment of people with a mental illness, subject to court order.

“To me, their response is a band-aid approach to resolving the real issues,” said Scott Sylak, executive director of the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Lucas County. 

The bill, sponsored by Brett Hudson Hillyer (R-Uhrichsville) and former Republican state Rep. Tavia Galonski, proposes creating a new category under which a person could be considered necessary for mental health treatment.

As it stands currently, the primary categories for law enforcement to acknowledge when responding to …