HB 786 – Enhance Local Response/Mental Health Crises
Primary House Sponsors: Rep. John Autry (D-Mecklenburg); Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth); Rep. Donna White (R-Johnston); Rep. Cynthia Ball (D-Wake)
Summary
This bill appropriates $2M in nonrecurring funds in the 2021-2022 fiscal year to the Department of Public Safety to be distributed as grants to municipal police departments and county sheriff’s’ offices for at least one of the following purposes: (1) to establish nonpolice units to address nonviolent, noncriminal 911 calls regarding mental health, homelessness, substance use, or other behavioral health crises; 92) to establish co-responder response models in which law enforcement personnel and mental health specialists jointly respond to 911 calls regarding mental or behavioral health crises; or (3) to establish a mental health division or to bolster existing mental health services within a police department or sheriff’s office and to increase the amount of law enforcement personnel and 911 communications personnel that have received Crisis Intervention Training.
This bill also requires the grants to be awarded to police departments and sheriff’s offices that have active response models for mental or behavioral health crises or that are developing response models that will be in use on or before January 1, 2022.
Movement
Filed – 5/3/2021