Supervisor Mark Farrell is promoting an initiative for the November 2014 election to implement Laura’s Law in San Francisco; if he is able to pass the measure in the Board of Supervisors before August, Farrell will withdraw the voter initiative.
Laura’s Law is a state law that allows court-ordered mental health treatment for people with serious mental illness and a recent history of danger to themselves or others. It is named for Laura Wilcox, a 19-year-old college student who was murdered in 2001 by a man who had fought his family’s efforts to force treatment for his mental illness.
“Laura’s Law will provide appropriate treatment services for our most vulnerable, reduce hospitalization and incarceration rates, and improve public safety for our residents,” said Farrell.
“The proof is what we see on the streets every day in our city with too many people dealing with serious mental health issues like schizophrenia, often self-medicating with drugs and alcohol,” said Mayor Ed Lee.
