A resolution requesting Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Senator Lamar Alexander, and the Davidson County Congressional Delegation to introduce and enact the necessary legislation to provide for supervision of mentally ill persons released from prison who are residing in group homes to ensure they receive adequate medical care.

WHEREAS, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, there are approximately 300,000 people suffering from mental illness in state and federal prisons; and

WHEREAS, persons suffering from various mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, usually require some form of medication to help them function in everyday life; and

WHEREAS, many of these mentally ill prisoners are released or paroled with nothing more than a two week supply of medication, and receive very limited, if any, medical supervision after they are released; and

WHEREAS, the inner city areas of Nashville are replete with group homes that house mentally ill persons and persons suffering from various addictions; and

WHEREAS, federal law limits the ability of local governments to ensure that the owners and operators of group homes are providing adequate medical care for the residents; and

WHEREAS, Members of Council have received numerous complaints from constituents about the unsupervised, disruptive, and often illegal, activities of group home residents; and

WHEREAS, in an effort to reduce the burden certain group homes are placing on inner-city communities, it is fitting and proper that the federal government require operators of group homes to ensure that mentally ill residents at the facility receive the appropriate medical care and medication.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Senator Lamar Alexander, and the Davidson County Congressional Delegation to introduce and enact the necessary legislation to provide for supervision of mentally ill persons released from prison who are residing in group homes to ensure they receive adequate medical care.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to President George W. Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Senator Lamar Alexander, and to each member of the Davidson County Congressional Delegation.

Section 3. That this Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Jamie Isabel