Mental Health Crisis Response: Professionals Instead of Police
This act aims to change how emergencies involving individuals with mental illness or disabilities are handled. Instead of law enforcement, trained mental health professionals will respond to these calls. This is intended to reduce arrests and deaths, and provide better community-based support.
Key points
Authorizes grants for states to hire and dispatch mental health professionals to respond to emergencies involving individuals with mental illness or disabilities, replacing law enforcement.
Requires training for these mental health professionals in de-escalation, anti-racism, and age-appropriate techniques, as well as training for emergency dispatch staff.
Prioritizes funding for areas with high rates of arrests and incarceration of individuals with mental illness or disabilities.
Mandates reporting on program effectiveness, including reductions in incarceration and deaths, and increased referrals to community-based services.
Eliminates the option for certain non-federal governmental health plans to opt out of mental health parity requirements, ensuring broader access to mental health care.
Expired
Citizen Poll