Security Measure on Clinics Backed : Health care: But the county supports the bill to beef up protection at mental facilities only if the state pays the $1.1 million required.

Los Angeles County supervisors voted Tuesday to support state legislation prompted by the 1989 slaying of a county social worker, but only if the state pays for the $1.1 million in security improvements at mental health clinics.

The union representative for the county’s psychiatric social workers was angered that the supervisors were unwilling to pay for security improvements that would be necessary under the bill.

“We find it reprehensible that the county . . . which a few weeks ago approved a $1.1 million ‘professional development allowance’ (for the supervisors, top county executives and judges) is now saying to the state: ‘We beg you for this money to improve employee security,’ ” said J. Guido DeRienzo of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

The bill, the “Robbyn Sue Panitch Mental Health Workers Security Act,” would require the county to draft a security plan that would include such measures as silent alarm buttons at workers’ desks.

The bill is named after the 36-year-old psychiatric worker who was stabbed to death Feb. 21, 1989, at the county’s Santa Monica clinic by David Scott Smith, a homeless man who was her patient. Smith was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison.

County officials said that unless the state provides additional money, they must tap funds earmarked for treatment of the mentally ill to pay for security. “The dollars you spend on safety will diminish the level of service you can provide otherwise,” Richard B. Dixon, the county’s chief administrative officer, told supervisors.

DeRienzo said: “There is only one county on record that has opposed the legislation, and that was this county. We consider that reprehensible due to the fact that this was the county where Robbyn Sue Panitch was killed.”

The bill’s author, Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica), said from Sacramento that the supervisors should be able to find the funds for the county’s security improvements.

“When Robbyn Panitch was murdered, the supervisors suddenly found $250,000 for added security that apparently did not exist the day before,” Hayden said in a statement. “As violent behavior increases, we have to provide caseworkers the same security that elected officials have.”

Acting mental health Director Francis Dowling said that the county is spending $1.2 million this year for security officers at 20 mental health facilities, a $700,000 increase over the amount spent before Panitch’s murder.

The proposed legislation provides for the county to seek state reimbursement for up to $1 million for security measures. Dixon expressed skepticism about the county’s ability to collect from the deficit-ridden state.

“We have $8 million in claims waiting to be paid by the state. We will be very fortunate if we get 20 or 30 cents on the dollar,” Dowling said. “We certainly would favor the bill if it were amended to provide real dollars.”

Dowling also expressed concern about the potential liability of drawing up a security plan that might not be implemented because of the lack of funding.

Supervisor Ed Edelman, pointing out that the county hopes to beef up security at clinics, said: “If we can get the state to pay for what we want to do anyway, we’re ahead of the game.”

DeRienzo complained that the Santa Monica clinic remains unsafe. He said that security guards do not constantly monitor the panic alarm system, a contention that Dowling disputed.

Supervisor Gloria Molina questioned the county’s chief administrative officer about how the county lobbyists in Sacramento could be opposing the bill before the board had taken a vote. “We take a position opposing (state) mandates unless they are funded,” Dixon replied.

“I would like to be informed before you take a position,” Molina said.

The bill has cleared the Assembly and is before a Senate committee. A similar bill was vetoed last year by then-Gov. George Deukmejian, who said it was unnecessary because Los Angeles County is working to improve security at mental health clinics.