Advocates Sue To Restore $133M Mental Health Program

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Advocates have filed a class-action lawsuit against the state over the cutoff of a $133 million program that provided mental health services to more than 20,000 special education students across California.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Friday, charges Gov. Schwarzenegger and the state departments of education and mental health with violating the Individuals with Disabilities Act.

Laura Faer, directing attorney for Public Counsel, one of the agencies that filed suit, says the law entitles children to have mental health services to enable their education.

The program was administered through county mental health departments.

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