GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6 of the Constitution of Virginia, I am returning this bill without my signature.

Senate Bill 494 establishes the Joint Commission on Behavioral Health Care. The Commission's responsibilities duplicate the responsibilities of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services and the State Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services Board. For example, it is the management responsibility of the Commissioner to oversee the provision and delivery of services by both the State facilities and community programs. It is the duty of the State Board of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services to promulgate regulations with regard to behavioral health care in the Commonwealth, pursuant to §37.1-10 of the Code of Virginia.

In addition to the oversight provided by State agencies, House Joint Resolution 225 continued the Joint Subcommittee Studying the Future Delivery of Publicly Funded Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services for two years. This body will provide legislative oversight of the behavioral health services system until the year 2000. Moreover, the Joint Commission on Health Care is another legislative body that could review behavioral health issues. There is simply no need to codify this legislative study commission.

Finally, I do not believe that taxpayers should be burdened with supporting the establishment of another permanent legislative commission to oversee the operations and management of activities that are within the purview of the Executive Branch of government.

Accordingly, I am vetoing this bill.