Saint Elizabeths Hospital and District of Columbia Mental Health Services Act
Public Law 98-621 · H.R. 6224 · 98th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Nov 8, 1984 · Health
Sponsor: Rep. Ronald Dellums (D-CA-8)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Saint Elizabeths Hospital and District of Columbia Mental Health Services Act - Provides that, effective October 1, 1987, the District of Columbia shall assume full responsibility for the provision of mental health services to residents of the District. Establishes time schedules for the preparation, review, and adoption of a system implementation plan for a comprehensive District mental health system. Sets forth the components of the plan. Requires the establishment of a labor-management advisory committee to make recommendations on the plan. Requires the solicitation of comments from the public with respect to the development of the plan.
Permits the shift of selected program responsibilities and staff resources from Saint Elizabeths Hospital to the District of Columbia with the mutual agreement of the Mayor of the District of Columbia and the Secretary of Health and Human Services if such transfer is consistent with the plan.
Requires that both a financial and physical plant audit of Saint Elizabeths Hospital be completed by January 1, 1986. Makes the Secretary responsible for making repairs and renovations necessary to bring those facilities at Saint Elizabeths Hospital which are to be utilized by the District as part of the comprehensive system up to applicable health and safety codes and standards.
Creates a joint responsibility on the part of the District and the Secretary for providing citizens with the full range and scope of mental health services during the service coordination transition period.
Describes the process for congressional review and adoption of the system implementation plan. Requires the Mayor to implement the plan by October 1, 1991.
Sets forth transition provisions which shall apply to employees of Saint Elizabeths Hospital.
Provides for the transfer of the property connected with Saint Elizabeths Hospital to the District except that identified by the Secretary as necessary for the delivery of Federal mental health programs at Saint Elizabeths Hospital.
Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1991 for the District of Columbia comprehensive mental health system. Authorizes the head of the appropriate Federal agency to pay the District the full costs of mental health care provided to Federal mental health care individuals.
Authorizes a special Federal payment for FY 1986 through 1991 for: (1) assistance to the District in establishing and maintaining a comprehensive mental health care system; (2) assistance in the assumption of greater financial responsibility for the provision of mental health care to District residents during that period of time; and (3) payment of the Government's liability for accrued annual leave balances for hospital employees assumed by the District under the system implementation plan.
Provides that capital improvements to facilities at Saint Elizabeths Hospital shall be the shared responsibility of the District and the Federal government during the transition period.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
District of Columbia Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported by
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 11 actions.
- Nov 8, 1984Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-621.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 29, 1984PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 9, 1984Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Voice Vote.
- Oct 5, 1984FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- Oct 4, 1984FloorFloor · Held at the desk by unanimous consent.
- Oct 2, 1984FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- Sep 14, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House District of Columbia Committee
- Sep 12, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House District of Columbia Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House District of Columbia Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.