Open records bill sails through Senate

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:51:53 -0400

A proposal requiring the state provide more information to the public about deaths in state psychiatric hospitals breezed through the Senate this afternoon in a unanimous vote.

Senate Bill 799 would require the state to disclose the names and ages of people who die in state institutions, the day and time they died, and a description of the circumstances, Lynn Bonner reports.

The bill would also require the state to release such information about former patients who die within seven days of release from a state hospital, developmental disabilities center, or drug and alcohol treatment center.

If enacted, the measure would require a policy reversal in state Department of Health and Human Services, which has declined to release such information.

Gov. Beverly Perdue and state Attorney General Roy Cooper support the bill.

"Making reports of incidents at state mental hospitals public can help patients get better care and treatment by shining a light on problems," Cooper said in a statement.

A Medicaid investigations unit in Cooper's office is currently investigating several incidents at state mental health and developmental disability facilities.

SB799-09

Open records bill sails through Senate