Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

Health Dept. to
get emergency funds for
Felix compliance

Associated Press

The state Department of Health will receive $18 million in emergency funding for child and adolescent mental-health services under a law signed by Gov. Ben Cayetano.

The emergency money will pay for services required under the federal Felix consent decree, which authorizes the state to identify and treat public school students with severe developmental disabilities.

The money is necessary to bring the state closer to compliance with court-ordered mandates to deliver constitutionally acceptable services to emotionally disturbed children and adolescents.

The state has until June 30 to meet the court's deadline for compliance, but is unlikely to do so.

A motion is pending in federal court to have the state declared in contempt of the order, a move that could lead to federal oversight of the Felix program.

Health officials told lawmakers the extra money is needed to cover unanticipated cost increases for the fiscal year ending June 30.

Another bill signed by the governor last week limited the legal exemption for state library employees concerning the promotion of pornography to minors.

Current law exempts public library staff from prosecution, but the new law limits that exemption to library employees acting within the scope of their employment. The law took effect Wednesday.