I am writing this letter to fill in the missing pieces from the story titled “Man files notice in wife’s death,” concerning the claim against the state made by Robert Bruce of Caratunk (Nov. 13).

The Sun Journal failed to clarify that Maine’s laws surrounding outpatient commitment have indeed changed with the passage and funding of my bill, LD 151 – “An Act To Improve the Delivery of Maine’s Mental Health Services.”

Forty-five states now have outpatient commitment – a conditional release from a mental health hospital (for a small number of patients) with requirements to stay on a treatment plan, see a psychiatrist and work with an assigned A.C.T. team. Other states have shown marked improvement in consumer and family safety over the last two years.

LD 151 has received extensive coverage in nearly all of the daily papers – while receiving not one word of coverage in the Sun Journal.

Sen. John Nutting, Leeds