As Arizona Legislature Session Ends, Lawmakers Allow Gov. Hull’s Veto of Mental Health Funds to Stand

The Arizona Legislature on May 10 ended its session for the year after failing to override Gov. Jane Hull's (R) veto of $25 million in new funding for the state's mental health hospital budget, the Arizona Republic reports. The state House voted 29-22 against overriding the veto and the Senate voted 15-13 in favor of restoring the funding, falling five votes short of the two-thirds majority required to lift the veto (Davenport, AP/Arizona Republic, 5/10). Democrats had tried to restore the funding, but received only "token" GOP support. In their effort to muster support to restore the funding, Democrats cited a letter from the Arizona Center for Disability Law "threatening litigation" against Hull's move, which would replace funds for the Arizona State Hospital with finding from the state's budget for other mental health services (Fischer, Capitol Media/Arizona Daily Star, 5/11). The group sent Hull a letter stating their intentions to sue if the funding is not restored. Hull, however, said funding for mental health services will be "adequate" without the $25 million because Proposition 204, which was approved by voters last November. The ballot initiative expands eligibility for state-sponsored mental health care and will use money from the state's tobacco settlement to cover the increased cost (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 5/10).