COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio lawmakers have approved a bill that could lead to more people with severe mental illness receiving court-ordered outpatient treatment.
The legislation clarifies that outpatient treatment is an option that judges can consider for patients along with hospitalization.
The proposal approved by the Senate today also sets out more behaviors a patient must exhibit to receive court-ordered treatment, such as being unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision.
Supporters say increasing such options makes it less likely that severely mentally ill people will end up hurting themselves or others.
Opponents say the proposal could increase the cost of mental illness treatment and strain the current system.
The measure goes now to the House.