 a note from coalition partner Fr. Patrick Delahanty of Louisville:
Senate Bill 154 is to ban executions of seriously mentally ill persons and will be heard in the S. Judiciary CommitteeThursday, February 27th. Because the vote will be close in committee, we need your help badly. If your State Senator is: Stephen West, Danny Caroll, Michael Nemes, John Schickel, Will Shroeder, or Phillip Wheeler, they are a member of the committee who has not committed to YEs and it is very important that he hears from you before next week's vote. Please call 1.800.372.7181 and ask the staff person to deliver a message to your State Senator. This is the message: Dear Senator I support passage of Senate Bill 154. I believe that when a person is seriously mentally ill at the time of a crime, even a heinous crime like murder, they should not be held to the same standard of culpability as you or I who are not mentally ill. This bill exempts them from the death penalty, but still holds them accountable by providing for lengthy prison sentences, even life without parole. I urge you to join me in supporting SB 154 when it comes up for a vote in committee on February 27. Please let me know how you plan to vote. Please use the above language or words of your own choosing to make it clear you support the bill and you want their support. As a constituent your voice is very important and now is the time to press for support. On behalf of all those whose lives may be saved after this bill passes, I thank you. This fact sheet was prepared for the House version of the bill, but applies equally to SB 154. You are part of that 82% of Kentuckians who support this measure. You might want to let your State Senator know that also. Photo credit: Steve Benson/Creators Syndicate, US News World Report
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by Marcie Timmerman Homeless teens in Kentucky who are over age 16 deserve to receive mental health treatment. They can't currently get it. Teens in homelessness who are separated from their parents, or disowned by their parents, are not eligible to receive mental health treatment without their parents' permission. The same parents whose behaviors or attitudes may have been reasons for the teen being homeless. HB 213 would clearly outline that mental health professionals can provide services to teens in homelessness who are age 16 or older without parental permission. It has been referred to the Senate Health & Welfare Committee and has a real chance of passing. Please call 1-800-372-7181 and leave a message for Senate Health & Welfare Committee to hear and pass this bill. This 2 minute phone call will help move it forward, and likely will save a life. We know for a fact they hear the bills they hear the most about. There's no opposition to this bill. Let's get it passed in 2020.  |
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