Bell receives Legislator of Year award

Contributed article
Published: July 31, 2008

Delegate Rob Bell,  R-58th District, received the Virginia Academy of Family Physician’s Legislator of the Year Award on July 26. 
Delegate Bell chaired the Subcommittee on Mental Health Reform this past General Assembly session. Dr. Sterling Ransone, President of the VAFP praised Bell for his work. 
“Delegate Bell worked tirelessly as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Mental Health Reform - many times holding meetings late into the night and even into the early morning hours. He is the kind of legislator who works hard no matter what it takes and his stewardship on this important issue is appreciated by the Academy and the medical profession in Virginia as a whole.“
Bell received the award at the annual meeting of the group in Virginia Beach.
“After the tragedy at Virginia Tech, there was a clear mandate for better supervision for those who are a danger to themselves or the public,“ said Bell.
“These new mental health commitment laws provide for oversight and clear lines of responsibility, which should make it much harder for someone like Mr. Cho to fall between the cracks,“ he added.