REPRESENTATIVE Tina Sablan’s mental health bill is now law following the Legislature’s override of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ veto.
In his transmittal letter to Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez and Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider on Tuesday, the governor said “pursuant to the override” of the House and Senate on Oct. 18 and Oct. 24 respectively, House Bill 22-80, to allow CNMI to join the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact or PSYPACT for improvement and expansion of access to mental health care in the islands, is now Public Law 22-23.
The bill was unanimously passed by the House in April and by the Senate in July, but was vetoed by the governor in August due to lack of information detailing the annual cost of joining PSYPACT.
The House unanimously overrode the governor’s veto last week while the Senate followed suit on Tuesday.
Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan, the governor’s running mate, said he believes the governor’s concern “is taken care of in this legislation.”
There is a state assessment fee of $10 only for any licensed psychologist to participate in the PSYPACT.
“We also support…any program that would improve or expand the capacity of mental health professionals which is, of course, a benefit for the Commonwealth,” Sablan said.
For her part, Rep. Tina Sablan, the Democratic candidate for governor, thanked the senators and her colleagues in the House for voting to override the governor’s veto.
“The bill becomes law now, enabling the CNMI to join the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact…and thereby expand access to mental health services for Marianas residents,” she said.
She also thanked the mental health providers of the community “who do heroic work helping people every day here, and who advocated for this legislation to address the unmet, urgent needs they see.”
