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Next stop: Santa Fe.

Kendra's Law has passed the City Council, but one supporter says she'll push for a statewide version of the law allowing court-ordered treatment of the mentally ill.

Just before the City Council voted 8-1 to pass the ordinance Monday, Carol Oleksak left the meeting room with an air of cautious satisfaction, still waiting to see how Act 2 might turn out.

"You have to start somewhere," she said.

Oleksak, a sergeant in the Albuquerque Police Department, draws on firsthand experience in her support of Kendra's Law: In 2003, a mentally ill homeless man shot her in the face, an incident she barely survived and doesn't actually remember.

"I should be an invalid," she said.

Since then, Oleksak has been pushing for the law - which would allow courts to force potentially dangerous mentally ill people into treatment programs in some limited circumstances - on the state and local level.

Earlier this year, the first effort died in the Legislature, but Oleksak and at least one city councilor want that to change in the next session.

"I would hope New Mexico is the 43rd state in the nation to pass Kendra's Law," said Councilor Ken Sanchez.

Supporters for the bill have pointed to the five fatal shootings in August 2005 - including two police officers - that police have blamed on a single mentally ill man, John Hyde. However, members of Hyde's family have said he would not have fit the criteria for court-ordered treatment.

At Monday's council meeting, opponents of the bill made heartfelt pleas against it.

Michael Wirts, who serves on the board of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Valencia County chapter, called the ordinance "blatant racism" and said it would only serve to stigmatize people.

"I don't want to be ashamed of being a mentally ill American," he said.

Others said a more effective strategy would be to address an inadequate mental health care system.

"Until you remove this stigma, prioritize mental health services and prevention, see us as worthy, as your constituents and listen to us . . . this law won't matter because we will still be here, seeking services that don't exist," said Sarah Couch, who works with two groups active in mental health issues.

In the end, the opposing arguments inspired only one opposing vote, from Councilor Debbie O'Malley.

"I think it unfairly penalizes the mentally ill," she said.

As during the run-up to passage of the bill, the shortcomings of the mental health care system remained a talking point Monday. Council President Martin Heinrich estimated that some 75 people could fall under Kendra's Law, but tens of thousands of other mentally ill people would not.

"This is not a bill that helps people with their mental health issues," added Councilor Sally Mayer. "This can't be the last thing we do."