Involuntary commitment subject of new law
<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">A new state law will make it possible for family members to have a mentally ill loved one involuntarily admitted for treatment if they fear that someone could get harmed.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed Senate Bill 234 into law Tuesday. The governor's office said the measure will take effect June 1, 2008.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">"I'm just thrilled to death the governor signed this," said Rep. David Leitch, a Peoria Republican who sponsored the bill as it advanced through the House. "It can mean an important step forward in empowering families to help" loved ones who have mental illness.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">The legislation easily won approval from the General Assembly earlier this year, with a 108-6 vote in the House and a 54-0 vote in the Senate. The bill's supporters included the National Alliance on Mental Illness Illinois.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">Existing law says that a person must present a threat to himself or to others before a family member or a friend can step in and have the loved one admitted for treatment involuntarily, Leitch said.</font>
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<p class="BODY" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face="Imperial">But the new law will let families obtain help for "loved ones who are decompensating ... before they hit rock bottom," he said.</font>