OCA is fortunate to employ the services of Carolyn Towner and her staff of Towner Policy Group in Columbus as Legislative Consultants. Periodic legislative reports, detailing current initiatives of the Ohio General Assembly impacting the practice of counseling, are available to all OCA members. This represents a primary benefit of OCA membership. Please contact Carolyn Towner, Kristy Smith, or Amanda Sines with questions you might have.

Legislative and Political Update
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House and Senate Bills Update
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Ohio Department of Insurance Mental Health Parity - Frequently Asked Questions
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Towner Policy Group, Ltd.
33 North Third Street, Suite 320
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614-221-7157 (telephone)
614-221-0756 (fax)

Carolyn Towner carolyntowner@sbcglobal.net

Kristy Smith kristymsmith@sbcglobal.net

Amanda Sines amandasines@sbcglobal.net

Kathleen Salyers, Chair of OCA Government Relations Committee ksalyer@utnet.utoledo.edu

State Mental Hold (SB-53)
PRACTICING LPCCs NEED YOUR HELP — SUPPORT SENATE BILL-53

LPCCs are duty bound to protect third parties whenever one of our clients threatens to cause physical harm or death to self or others but they have not been granted the authority to sign Ohio’s “state mental hold.” Without this authority, critical time is lost. Rather than being able to act promptly and effectively, LPCCs, especially those in private practice, waste valuable time arranging for the client to be re-evaluated by a physician, a psychologist, or a mental health officer who can sign the “state mental hold” for them. Further, the risk to public safety is increased, since until the order to detain and transport is signed, the client may not be detained against their will even if the client’s symptoms escalate.

SB-53, would add LPCCs to the list of mental health professionals who can sign the “state mental hold.” Although this bill has many supporters and, in fact, has been passed by the Ohio Senate, it has strong opposition from psychiatrists and psychologists. Currently, it is being reviewed by the House Health Committee. To prevail in the House, SB-53 needs YOUR support. Please call or write your Ohio Representative today.

Call or write your Representative today. If you don’t know who your Representative is, you can search http://www.house.state.oh.us/jsps/Representatives.jsp by name, by district, or by zip code to obtain your Representative’s contact information.

What You Can Do.
Please write a "hard copy" advocacy letter and mail it to your Repressentative. If you cannot send a "hard copy" letter, send an advocacy message via email to your Repressentative. Also, call your Representative and urge her/him to support SB-53 by talking to members of the House Health Committee and by voting for the bill if it is reported out for a full House vote. Whether you use a model letter from the Ohio Mental Health Counselors Association, the Southeast Ohio Counseling Association (SEOCA), or write your own, be sure to use the formal opening for the letter:

The Honorable __(full name)__
Ohio House of Representatives
77 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215

Dear Representative __(last name)__



Include your name and address at the end of the letter.

In your letter,
--explain that the bill will allow licensed professional clinical counselors to sign a mental health hold to have the patient transported to the hospital where an examination can be conducted and the psychiatrist/physician can make a determination as to whether or not the patient should be admitted.
--explain your education to them--your academic training and your continuing education qualifications
--tell the legislators why counselors should be given the ability to sign a mental health hold.

In the sample letter, we have provided an example of a "general" advocacy message which you can use, but it is best if you write your own letter in your own words. A personal message has greater impact than the "general" advocacy message provided.