DeWine vetoes smaller mental health board for Erie County

SANDUSKY — Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed a budget provision allowing Erie County's commissioners to appoint a smaller mental health board when the current board is dissolved. Erie County commissioners expressed shock and disappointment at the news, while state Rep. D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron, said he'll try again, offering a stand-alone bill when the Ohio General Assembly reconvenes in September after its summer vacation. The state mental health director, Lori Criss, said she had opposed Swearingen's amendment and spoke to DeWine about it. Other mental health groups also opposed it. "It's a shock for sure," said commissioner Matt Old, a Republican. "There was widespread agreement in the General Assembly that allowing for smaller boards that are more tied to the local community was a common-sense solution. I was especially surprised because there was no opposition from the governor's office until the very end of the process." "We advocated for this reform because of the years of dysfunction from the current board. Erie County is the perfect example that 18 people serving on a board is not usually going to lead to an ideal outcome," said Erie County commissioner Pat Shenigo, a Democrat. "It seems that Gov. DeWine did not adequately understand our history in Erie County," Shenigo said. DeWine signed the budget Wednesday but issued 14 separate vetoes of various provisions in the budget measure, which took effect on Thursday. State law requires local mental health and recovery boards to have either 14 or 18 members. The Mental Health and Recovery Board of Erie and Ottawa Counties has 18 members. Commissioners in the two counties have voted to dissolve the board. At the request of Erie County commissioners, Swearingen inserted a provision in the budget allowing a new Erie County mental health board of seven to nine members. The provision also increased the number of locally appointed board members from 60% to 80%, with the state mental health director approving the rest. The Senate kept the provision, but put in language so the provision only applied to Erie County and would not be an option in Ohio's other 87 counties. DeWine's veto message In his veto message, DeWine said he could support a smaller board but said he opposes reducing the number of board members named by the state mental health director. "The administration would be supportive of legislation to allow certain counties to reduce the size of their boards of alcohol, drug, and mental health. However, any change in the law that allows a reduction in the number of individuals on a board must maintain the current proportional number of members appointed by the Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and by the county commissioners," DeWine wrote. Swearingen said the veto was "really disappointing." "The silver lining is we now know what the governor would support," Swearingen said. He said he'll introduce a stand-alone bill when lawmakers return to session in the second week of September. Old said that months ago, he and Caleb Stidham, the county treasurer-elect and the chairman of the Erie County Republican Party, sought a meeting with the governor's staff to discuss the situation with the local mental health board. No meeting ever was obtained, Old said. Dan Tierney, DeWine's spokesman, said the governor's office is willing to meet with Old and Stidham to discuss the local mental health board. Tierney said he'll help make that happen. The Ohio chapter of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, issued a statement Thursday applauding DeWine's veto. "NAMI Ohio opposed the change included in the budget bill sent to Gov. DeWine because it played into the stigma toward those with mental illness by reducing their voice on local county ADAMH boards. NAMI Ohio is open to a thorough discussion regarding the role, size of ADAMH boards and the type of categories required under the existing law. As the largest consumer and family group in the state, we think more voices of those impacted by serious mental illness is needed, not less," the statement said. Criss told the Register Thursday she had similar concerns. She said she wanted to make sure she can continue appointing local board members who have "lived experience" in dealing with mental health or substance abuse issues. Meanwhile, the Erie County commissioners wonder when Criss will approve the request to dissolve the current board. Criss has suggested that it take place on Dec. 31, but the commissioners want the change to happen more quickly. "There has been no real movement," Old said. He said the commissioners have submitted more documents to Criss and to Criss' attorney. "We're encouraging her to expedite this process," Old said, explaining that commissioners hoped to get a new board in place by Oct. 1. Criss said she is flexible about a date. "We want to move as quickly as the local community can put the necessary things in place," she said. "There's not a specific date that we have in mind." DeWine vetoed COVID provision DeWine's other vetoes included axing a provision dealing with punishment of liquor permit licenses holders who violated COVID-19 health orders. Lawmakers had approved a provision to end health orders affecting such businesses, end any current disciplinary procedures and refund the money from any fines that have been imposed. DeWine said he vetoed the provision because it sends the wrong message. "During the pandemic, business owners across Ohio made sacrifices to protect both their employees and customers from the spread of COVID-19. This item sends a message that those responsible business owners are not valued as much as the few businesses who failed, sometimes repeatedly, to take steps to protect their employees and customers from the spread of this deadly disease," the governor wrote. "Ohio law should not reward businesses and individuals that violated orders and rules adopted to protect Ohioans from the spread of COVID-19 by excusing their actions," he wrote.