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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Barb McIlvaine Smith
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McIlvaine Smith rallies support for her bill to provide annual cost-of-living adjustments for MHMR programs
HARRISBURG, June 12 – State Rep. Barb McIlvaine Smith, D-Chester, joined the Pennsylvania Community Providers Association at a rally at the state Capitol Tuesday to call for better state funding of county mental health, mental retardation and early intervention programs.
McIlvaine Smith has introduced legislation (H.B. 2241) that would provide for an annual cost-of-living adjustment for community-based mental health, mental retardation and early intervention services.
"We are talking about helping some of our most vulnerable citizens. My bill would, at the very least, allow county agencies to keep up with inflation," McIlvaine Smith said. "Without an annual COLA to keep pace with inflation, many of these agencies have no choice but to cut services. And since many of the people they help need their help 24-7, cutting services puts lives at risk."
McIlvaine Smith noted that over the last 15 years, no COLA was provided one-third of the time. She said state government has a responsibility to provide adequate funding for state mental hospitals and mental retardation centers.
House Bill 2241, which has wide bipartisan support, is currently being considered in the House Appropriations Committee, a final step before being considered by the full House.
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