From the Salem Statesman Journal, June 9, 2009

Patients released from Oregon State Hospital would have to have placement options with services under a bill headed to Gov. Ted Kulongoski.

Senate Bill 401, which cleared the House without change on a 57-0 vote, was the result of a group convened by the governor.

The bill’s sponsors were Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, and Sen. Jackie Winters, R-Salem, who was in the group.

One of the group’s recommendations was that residential treatment facilities need to be accessible across the state to take care of the patient’s needs. Patients released often are placed far from their homes and their support networks, which include those who care about them the most.

“With this bill, patients can get the support they need without being located close to a victim,” Winters said.

READ – Senate Bill 401, “Directs Department of Human Services to develop and implement plan to increase availability of supervision and treatment in underserved regions of state for persons conditionally released by Psychiatric Security Review Board. Requires department to submit biennial report on implementation of plan.”