HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2008.11.06 - 9593Miscellaneous Resolution # 08254
BY: Commissioners Helaine Zack, District #22, Marcia Gershenson, District #17, Christine LcIng,
District #7 II RE: Board of Commissioners — Support for Mental Health Parity in Michigan
TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioner adopted Miscellaneous Resolution #O736
to create the Women's Commission for Oakland County to survey the status of women in Oakland
County, as well as, assess their needs; and
WHEREAS after the Women's Commission for Oakland County held a public forum, the Health and
Wellness Committee - which engaged in fact-finding and consulted with experts regarding he
issues that impact women and families in Oakland County - has identified that there is a
demonstrated need to end discrimination against people suffering from mental illness and to provide
equal medical coverage to those afflicted.
WHEREAS over one-half million children and adults in Michigan suffer from a serious merital
disorder; and 1 i
WHEREAS 88% of Michigan citizens believe it is unfair for insurance companies to limit mental
health benefits; and i
WHEREAS 4 out of 10 of the leading causes of disability in people older than 5 years of age are
mental disorders; and
WHEREAS one of every three families is touched sometime by psychiatric conditions such as
depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, addiction disorders and others. Thanks to todai's
scientific technology, we know that these conditions are biological brain disorders, not flaws in a
person's character. We also know that these conditions cut across all social and economic lines of
our society; and
WHEREAS under the Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008,
Michigan residents employed by businesses of more than 50 employees will enjoy mental health
benefits on par with other medical coverage; and
WHEREAS 42 states have adopted mental health parity legislation, while Michigan is one of the 8
remaining states w'no have not addressed this issue; and
WHEREAS the negligible direct cost of parity is more than offset by increased employe
productivity; decreased absenteeism; less use of emergency rooms and medical resources; and
other benefits to employers and society; and
WHEREAS testimony presented at the open forum of the Women's Commission for Oakland
County provided additional information which further supported studies that have demonstrated th0
children are the hardest-hit age group when it comes to inaccessibility of services due to lack of
parity; and
bWHEREAS, in 2004, Michigan's Mental Health Commission strongly recommended parity legislatio
for Michigan; recognizing that parity law can decrease pressure on the state's under-funded and
over-burdened public mental health system; and I
aine ZE Commissioner Marbfa Gershenson
District #
Commissioner Fttlaine Zack
District #22
CrmissionFs
0' trict #
• Commissioner
District #
Contnissioner
District # /4.10
Commissioner Chris
District #7
ommissione
District #
Commissioner
District
CornnIissioner---3
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WHEREAS the Women's Commission for Oakland County has issued a report which recomme "ids
that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners support the enactment of mental health parity
policy and legislation for all Michigan citizens; and
WHEREAS the Women's Commission for Oakland County's further recommended that the Oakland
County Board of Commissioners and Oakland County officials support legislation that will advance
mental health parity and advocate for the residents of Oakland County and impacted famiiies
throughout the State of Michigan,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Oes
hereby affirm the recommendation of the Women's Commission for Oakland County and supports to
ending discrimination against people suffering from mental illness and to provide equal medial
coverage to those afflicted.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners support legislatIon
that will advance mental health parity for the residents of Oakland County and impacted families
throughout the State of Michigan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners urges the Michidan
legislature to move forward on enacting mental health parity policy and legislation for all Michigan
citizens: and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds forward copies i of
this adopted resolution to Governor Granholm, the Oakland County delegation to the Michigpn
legislature, the Michigan Association of Counties, the Michigan Partners for Parity, the Oakland
County Mental Health Authority, the Michigan Women's Commission and Oakland Countys
lobbyists.
Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution.
Commissioner
District #
Comthissioner,
ct # I District #
CoFnmigsionA uommissroner
District # r`t District #/0
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner
District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Commissioner Commissioner
District # District #
Resolution #08254 November 6, t',108
Moved by Zack supported by Potts to suspend the rules and vote on MISCELLANEOUS RESOLU -diON
#08254 - BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH PARITY IN MICHIGAN.
Vote on motion to suspend the rules:
AYES: Greimel, Hatchett, Jacobsen, KowaII, Long, Middleton, Nash, Potter, Potts, Rogers, S '6ott,
Spector, Woodward. Zack, Burns, Clark, Coleman, Coulter. Crawford, Douglas, Gershenson,
Gosselin. (23)
NAYS: None. (0)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the motion to suspend the rules and vote on MISCELLANE6US
RESOLUTION #08254- BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH PARITY IN
MICHIGAN carried.
Vice Chairperson Hugh Crawford declared a brief recess at 10:04 a.m. so that copies of the resolution ciluld
The Board of Commissioners reconvened at 10:09 am.
PRESENT; Burns, Clark, Coleman, Coulter, Crawford, Douglas, Gershenson, Gingell, GosscIlin,
Greimel, Hatchett, Jacobsen, Kowa'', Long, Middleton, Nash, Potter, Potts, Rogers, Scott, Spector,
Woodward. Zack, (23)
EXCUSED ABSENCE WITH NOTICE: Bullard, Gregory. (2)
Quorum present.
Discussion followed.
Moved by Douglas supported by Gosserin the resolution be postponed until the November 20, 2008 Bord
meeting.
Discussion followed.
Vote on motion to postpone:
AYES: Jacobsen, kowall. Middleton, Potter, Rogers, Scott, Clark, Douglas, Gingell, Gosselin. (10)
NAYS: Long, Nash, Potts, Spector, Woodward, Zack, Burns, Coleman, Coulter, Crawford,
Gershenson, Greimel. Hatchett. (13) 1
A sufficient majority having not voted in favor, the motion to postpone the resolution until the November 30,
2008 Board meeting failed.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners suppoFt urges tie
legislatioeure to that-v,411 consider advanceing mental health parity for the residents of Oakland
County and impacted families throughout the State of Michigan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners urges the MichiOn
legislature to cnove-fe-rwasi-en consider enacting mental health parity policy and legislation for 911
Michigan citizens.
- be distributed.
Roll called.
Moved by Greimel supported by Long the resolution be amended as follows:
Discussion followed.
-ef-C-e-Fam-i-ssiepers-4;liees
Iriecetly-
endegAiseriraination-agaiRst-peeplo suffering- from--nieRta4 illness and-te-poi
eeverage-te-these-afflioted,.
• •• • ; •• •• • : : • t. • ;
El our 3na imeemea T3
Moved by Scott supported by Douglas the resolution Joie further amended as follows:
Strike the following paragraphs from the resolution:
WH-E-14E-AS-th-e-WemeWs-CaFaa9-is-sioR-for--Oakiand-Co4p-ty-h,as-jersued-a-reiaort-whiai-reeenimtrifs
that_the_oakiewl t • _ - .:ao. •; - actment-of-cRental-health-paFity-pelioy
ond iVtgan-sensand
WHEREAS the Womene-Gemmission-fer--Geklanci-Cou
Gounty-Boarel-of-Gemssionors and Oa-kle4d-Geolty-offieiele-s-upperriegiclation-that-will-advInee
mental- health papity -al:I-GI-advocate-for the residents ef Oaklan
th-ro:Fghobit-the-State-ef-rviloh-i-gaci,
Vice Chairperson Hugh Crawford declared a recess at 10:29 a.m.
The Board of Commissioners reconvened at 10:34 am.
Roll called.
PRESENT: Burns, Clark, Coleman, Coulter, Crawford, Douglas, Gershenson, Gingell, Goss6,11n,
Greirnel, Hatchett, Jacobsen, Kowa, Long, Middleton, Nash, Potter, Potts, Rogers, Scott, Spector,
Woodward, Zack. (23)
EXCUSED ABSENCE WITH NOTICE: Bullard, Gregory. (2)
Quorum present.
Discussion followed.
As a point of order, Commissioner Greimei asked if the second amendment was germane to the first
amendment.
Judy Cunningham, Corporation Counsel. addressed the Board and stated that the second amendment as
germane to the first amendment.
Clarification on the amendments and discussion followed.
Vote on Scott amendment:
AYES: Kowall, Long, Middleton. Potter, Potts, Rogers, Scott, Clark, Crawford, Douglas, Gingill,
Gosselin, Jacobsen. (13)
NAYS: Nash, Spector. Woodward, Zack, Burns, Coleman, Coulter, Gershenson, Greimel,
Hatchett. (10)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the amendment carried.
As clarification on the Greimel amendment, Deputy Clerk/Register of Deeds James H. VanLeuven stated that
the BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED paragraph should be changed as follows:
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Boatcl
of Commissioners support urges the legislati ,anure to thet-wit4 consider advancing mental heat ih
parity for the residents of Oakland County and impacted families throughout the State of Michigan,.
Vote on Greimel amendment:
AYES: Long, Middleton, Nash, Potter, Potts, Rogers, Scott. Spector, Woodward, Zack, Burns, Clar,
Coleman, Coulter, Crawford, Douglas, Gershenson, Gingell, Gosselin, Greimel, Hatchett, Jacobsen,
Kowa. (23)
NAYS: None. (0)
nor recommended that the OalciaR
t-
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the amendment carried.
Vote on resolution, as amended:
AYES: Middleton, Nash, Potter, Potts, Rogers, Scott, Spector, Woodward, Zack, Burns, Cark,
Coleman, Crawford, Douglas, Gershenson, Ghge4l, Gosselin, Greimel, HaWhen, Jacobsen, kowaii,
Long. (22)
NAYS: Coulter. (1)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolution, as amended was adopted.
DOES NOT REQUIRE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ACTION
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Ruth Johnson, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on November 6, 2004,
with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the County of Oakland atPontiai,
Michigan this 6th day of November, 2008.
Ruth Johnson, County Clerk
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