From NAMI-VT
Come tell the Vermont Legislature what you think about a bill (S.287 - An Act Relating to Involuntary Treatment and Medication) that would make some significant changes to Vermont's current law governing involuntary hospitalization and involuntary medication.

The bill allows for an expedited hospitalization hearing in certain circumstances, and joint filing of petitions for involuntary medication with applications for involuntary treatment. This would shorten the time between involuntary admission to a psychiatric hospital and a court order for involuntary treatment for certain individuals. It also eliminates the 30 day automatic stay of orders for involuntary medication, and requires court review of every case to determine whether probable cause exists to justify the involuntary hospitalization.

The hearing will be before the Senate Committees on Health & Welfare and Judiciary on Thursday, January 30, 2014 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the State House in room 11.

Members of the public interested in testifying about the above bill may sign up starting 30 minutes prior to the hearing. Each person will have 3 minutes to testify. Due to the time frame, please note everyone may not be able to testify.