Sat Mar 26, 2022 – 12:25 pm EDT
ATLANTA (LifeSiteNews) — A Republican-led mental health bill in Georgia is drawing fire from conservatives who argue the measure could extend government control, put children’s mental health in the hands of the state, and align mental health diagnoses with the World Health Organization (WHO).
Critics also worry the bill could keep pedophiles out of jail, allow police officers to detain people they suspect of having mental health problems, and even threaten second amendment rights.
HB 1013, called the Mental Health Parity Act, was introduced by Republican Georgia House Speaker David Ralston and garnered vast bipartisan support in the House, where it was passed by an overwhelming margin earlier this month.
The bill has drawn increased scrutiny in the Senate, however, with opponents arguing the proposal is far too broad.
“While Georgians need and deserve better mental health services, this 77-page atrocity dramatically increases consumer prices, grows government, centralizes mental health care, and invites the ‘woke’ World Health Organization into the lives of Georgians in need of mental health services,” said Jeanne Seaver, a Republican running for lieutenant governor in the state this year.
Proponents of the bill have
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