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TO: California Treatment Advocacy Coalition

FROM: Carla Jacobs, Randall Hagar, Chuck Sosebee & Mark Gale

DATE: June 29, 2010

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Attend the Laura's Law Hearing Scheduled in San Francisco!

A hearing on implementing Laura's Law will take place on Monday, July 12th at 10:30 a.m. in the City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee at City Hall, Room 263.  We need you to continue to show your support!

If the resolution to implement Laura's Law passes out of the committee it will be up for a vote at the full Board on July 20, 2010. 

Laura's Law, California's law for assisted outpatient treatment (AOT), offers a lifeline to people with severe mental illness who struggle to comply with prescribed treatment independently.  The law provides mental health treatment through a court order for individuals suffering from severe mental illness who are otherwise unable to access community services.

San Francisco has yet to adopt the law.  Currently, the Mayor's proposed budget includes approximately $6 million in cuts to mental health programs, many of which serve the most severe mentally ill individuals.  Supervisor Alioto-Pier's office reports that implementing Laura's Law in San Francisco will reverse those cuts and provide a mechanism to treat those most in need of services.

"Laura's Law is compassionate.  It helps stabilize people when they need it most," says Supervisor Alioto-Pier, sponsor of the resolution. Implementing Laura's Law in San Francisco would be a huge step forward for California!  AOT saves lives, protects the public and makes better use of limited resources.

What You Can Do To Help!

Attend the hearing

Show your support on July 12th by attending the hearings at City Hall! 

When: July 12th at 10:30 AM

Where: City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee at City Hall, Room 263

Contact your Supervisor and express your support

If you are unable to attend the hearing - write a letter to or call your Supervisor urging them to support implementation of  Laura's Law.

Click here to find contact information for your Supervisor.

What to say: I support Laura's Law and want to see it implemented in San Francisco! Be sure to share your personal story.