PUBLIC LAW 98-621—NOV. 8, 1984
98 STAT. 3369
Pubjic Law 98-621 98th Congress An Act Toprovide for the assumption of selected functions, programs, and resources of Saint l^izabeths Hospital by the District of Columbia, to provide for the establishment of a comprehensive mental health care system in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SHORT TITLE SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the "Saint Elizabeths Hospital and District of Columbia Mental Health Services Act".
Nov. 8, 1984 [H.R. 6224]
Saint Elizabeths Hospital and District of Columbia Mental Health Services Act. 24 USC 225 note.
FINDINGS AND PURPOSES
SEC. 2. (a) The Congress makes the following findings: 24 USC 225. (1) Governmentally administered mental health services in the District of Columbia are currently provided through two separate public entities, the federally administered Saint Elizabeths Hospital and the Mental Health Services Administration of the District of Columbia Department of Human Resources. (2) The District of Columbia has a continuing responsibility to provide mental health services to its residents. (3) The Federal Government, through its operation of a national mental health program at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, has for over 100 years assisted the District of Columbia in carrying out that responsibility. (4) Since its establishment by Congress in 1855, Saint Elizabeths Hospital has developed into a respected national mental health hospital and study, training, and treatment center, providing a range of quality mental health and related services, including— (i) acute and chronic inpatient psychiatric care; (ii) outpatient psychiatric and substance abuse clinical and related services; (iii) Federal court system forensic psychiatry referral, evaluation, and patient treatment services for prisoners, and for individuals awaiting trial or requiring post-trial or post-sentence psychiatric evaluation; (iv) patient care and related services for designated classes of individuals entitled to mental health benefits under Federal law, such as certain members and employees of the United States Armed Forces and the Foreign Service, and residents of American overseas dependencies; (v) District of Columbia court system forensic psychiatry referral, evaluation, and patient treatment services for prisoners, and for individuals awaiting trial or requiring posttrial or post-sentence psychiatric evaluation; (vi) programs for special populations such as the mentally ill deaf;
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