A proposal to create a single agency to oversee mental health services in Howard County appeared to gain the support of the county's state legislators last night.
The bill would establish a quasi-public authority to oversee community planning, management and financing of mental health services in the county.
At the meeting sponsored by the county's delegation to the Maryland General Assembly, residents testified on state, regional and local issues.
Although the senators and delegates did not immediately vote on whether to back the bill to create a core mental health services agency, it appeared to have enough support to go forward.
Under the proposal, the mental health services currently overseen by the county Health Department would be transferred to the jurisdiction of the separate agency, said Manus J. O'Donnell, director of the county's Department of Citizen Services.
The agency would function as a quasi-public authority, similar to the county Economic Development Authority, in that it would be a nonprof it entity whose directors would be appointed by the county executive, Mr. O'Donnell said.
As a nonprofit rather than a governmental agency, it would be in a better position to coordinate all of the county's mental health services and secure outside grants, he said.
In other testimony, residents complained about and offered suggestions on a variety of issues facing the state legislature this term.
Gail Bates, an administrative assistant to County Executive Charles I. Ecker, urged the delegation to support a bill to permit counties to increase the $25 surcharge for marriage licenses.
Others testified that some of the additional money from the fee then should be earmarked for the county Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center.
Two Laurel residents testified that the legislators should do all that they can to prevent the Washington Redskins from building a new football stadium in Laurel or elsewhere in the region.
"I request that the Howard County delegation not in any way support this stadium," said Stuart Kohn, a resident of the area. "I do not want one penny of my tax dollars going to support a stadium for one man."