DES MOINES, IOWA (AP) -- The Iowa Senate has approved a measure that would authorize mental health officials to hold people accused of crimes until police can take them into custody.
The Senate approved the bill on a 48-0 vote Wednesday.
The measure is intended to prevent patients with psychiatric problems from being released before they deal with criminal charges.
The issue arose last summer when a Waterloo psychiatric unit didn't notify law enforcement about the release of Mark Becker.
Becker is on trial this week for the June 24, 2009, shooting death of Aplington-Parkersburg football coach Ed Thomas.
Becker was hospitalized after threatening a Cedar Falls man and damaging his garage, then leading police on a high-speed chase. He was released the night before the shooting.
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