The Iowa Senate has sent the governor a bill designed to address some of the fault lines in Iowa’s mental health care system.

The bill is the culmination of a lobbying effort by advocates and work by legislators who agree that the full array of treatment options aren’t available within the state for mentally ill Iowans. Senator Jeff Edler (ED-ler), a Republican from State Center, says a bipartisan coalition worked hard for months and months to develop this plan.

The bill cleared the Senate unanimously yesterday. It passed the House unanimously in February.

The plan has the support of groups ranging from the National Alliance on Mental Illness to the Iowa Sheriffs and Deputies Association. Advocates say there’s still a need to address gaps in the mental health care system for Iowa children and teenagers.