Senate panel advances S.2 to consolidate mental‑health, disability and substance‑use functions; witnesses press for stronger oversight

The Senate Medical Affairs Subcommittee advanced Senate Bill 2 (S.2), a measure to consolidate several state health‑related agencies into a cabinet‑level department, after adopting a series of amendments and hearing testimony from families, disability advocates and policy groups during a subcommittee meeting. The panel voted to report the bill favorably to the full committee as amended.

Supporters and witnesses said the reorganization aims to improve coordination and accountability among agencies that deliver services to people with mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance‑use disorders. Several family members and advocates urged more explicit oversight and enforcement provisions in the legislation, citing past problems they described with how appropriated funds and facility incidents were handled.

Miss Harrison, a citizen witness who testified earlier in the hearing, told the subcommittee that money appropriated for regional centers was sometimes diverted for other uses and that “there need to be some oversight, ongoing oversight by this committee.” She said audits and reports have documented abuse and obstructed reviews and that current enforcement mechanisms have not produced consequences for responsible officials. “The problem was that the governor was…