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Press release from the Office of Roger Michele

May 3, 2000

House and senate approve Rep. Michele's Father Lysz Law

Legislation proposed by state Rep. Roger B. Michele (D-Bristol) that would protect the health and safety of the public, including the mentally ill, was unanimously approved today by the House of Representatives and Senate as part of the state public health implementation bill.

Michele’s legislation would establish a peer-engagement specialist program that provides intensive community support and case management services for individuals who have inflicted or threatened to inflict serious physical injury on another person or persons on one or more occasions within the last five years. The program would also apply to individuals who have demonstrated a persistent rejection of traditional mental health services.

"This legislation will serve to protect all the citizens of Connecticut from violence, threats of violence and personal injury," Michele said. "What we have done today is establish an effective mechanism for protecting people’s health and safety in Connecticut."

Michele introduced the legislation following the death of Father Robert Lysz, who was killed in Bristol one year ago by Michael Ouellette. Ouellette is on medication now and has been ruled fit to stand trial.

"It is obvious that medication and medicating are effective," Michele said. "The court’s ruling supports the foundation of this legislation – that medication works."

Under the legislation, $2 million will be allocated to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to enhance community services and establish a committee to advise the commissioner of DMHAS of the design and implementation of the program. Additionally, the commissioner of DMHAS will generate a report detailing, but not limited to, the relevant clinical benchmarks for evaluating participants and the program itself.

Michele said the report would indicate the cases that have been successful or non-successful under the program.

"This program will act as a filtering mechanism and the report will establish which cases have been successful and unsuccessful as well as what further legislation may be needed," Michele said. "We have taken a great step forward to protecting the health and safety of all Connecticut citizens, including the mentally ill."