3.3.16

Suggested lead:   Washington is under fire for problems in its mental hospitals system, and a sweeping reform bill OK'd by the state House Thursday hopes to right that situation.  Dan Frizzell has that story.

Wrap (:65 total): The deficiencies in Washington's state-run mental facilities are numerous, and newsworthy.  Too few beds, not enough staff, and safety problems top the list.  Lawmakers in the state House have now given  their unanimous approval to legislation that will strengthen the oversight responsibility within the executive branch and closely monitor the hospitals to correct emerging problems before they reach the crisis level.  Democratic State Representative Laurie Jinkins of Tacoma introduced the bipartisan bill and talked about her goals on the House floor Thursday afternoon.    

JINKINS:  "Our state mental health hospitals are not operating in the way that we would like them to.  The people of this state deserve the kind of mental health care that they want, and that they need. This bill is attempting to start addressing that by moving into the 21st century of mental- healthcare treatment in the state of Washington. [:19]. 

The Jinkins legislation was immediately transmitted to the Senate, which has just seven more days to act on it before the Legislature adjourns for the year on March 10.  In Olympia, I’m Dan Frizzell.