Brief Summary of Bill

Creates the mental health field response team grant program (program), administered by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
Requires the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to conduct a study on whether the program improves outcomes of interactions with persons experiencing behavioral health crises.

Background:

Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) is an independent organization consisting of sheriffs, police chiefs, the Washington State Patrol, and the Department of Corrections. The 1975 Legislature made the WASPC a statutory entity by designating the association as a "combination of units of local government," and it currently receives state funding to manage certain programs. This includes, for example, the Jail Booking and Reporting System.

Behavioral Health Organizations. A behavioral health organization refers to a county, group of counties, or nonprofit organization under contract with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to provide a comprehensive network of behavioral health services in a regional service area. Behavioral health organizations contract with local providers to provide an array of mental health services, monitor the activities of local providers, and oversee the distribution of funds under the state managed care plan.

Washington State Institute for Public Policy. The Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) is a research organization created by the Legislature to provide nonpartisan research at legislative direction on issues of importance to Washington.

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Summary of Bill:

When funded, the WASPC must develop and implement a mental health field response team grant program (program). The purpose of the program is to assist local law enforcement agencies to develop and operate mental health field response team capabilities by utilizing mental health professionals to professionally, humanely, and safely respond to encounters involving persons with mental health issues.

Grants are awarded to local law enforcement agencies based on locally developed proposals. Two or more agencies may submit a joint proposal. Grant applications are reviewed by peer review panels appointed by the WASPC in consultation with behavioral health organizations. To the extent possible, at least one grant recipient agency should be from the east side of the state and one from the west side of the state. Grant recipients must be selected and receiving funds by October 1, 2018.

Grant recipients must include at least one DSHS designated mental health professional who will perform professional services. A mental health professional may assist patrol officers in the field or in an on-call capacity, provide training on best practices, or provide other services. Grant recipients must also develop and provide training necessary for mental health professionals to operate successfully and competently in partnership with law enforcement agencies.

The WASPC must submit an annual report to the Governor and appropriate committees of the Legislature on the program, including information on grant recipients, use of funds, participation of mental health professionals, and feedback from grant recipients.

The WSIPP, in consultation with the WASPC, must develop data collection and reporting guidelines for grant recipients. The WSIPP must conduct a study on whether the use of mental health field response improves outcomes of interactions with persons experiencing behavioral health crises.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Our criminal justice system is a good system, but it can sometimes be an ineffective and expensive method of addressing mental health crises. Mental health is the number one public safety issue facing Washington. People experiencing mental health crises are not necessarily committing crimes, but communities continue to rely on law enforcement to respond to those crises.

This bill focuses on sending help where help is needed. Mental health professionals will be working in the field alongside law enforcement. This improves the interactions between the public and law enforcement, thereby reducing the possibility of using force, and also improves public safety overall. Instead of booking someone into jail, he or she may be connected with services or diverted to a more appropriate facility.

Many law enforcement agencies are developing innovative solutions to the larger demand for mental health services in the field. This bill will assist agencies with this effort, and further expand partnerships between law enforcement and mental health professionals.

The bill has flexibility for law enforcement agencies to use different models, including using a co-responder model or an on-call model. It also allows multiple agencies to submit a joint proposal, which is significant for small and rural agencies.

It is important to continue to include the 9‑1‑1 system and dispatchers in the conversation on expanding the availability of mental health professionals. The population in need of services in the field are often heavy users of the 9‑1‑1 system. The bill will help redirect resources to better serve these populations, while also collecting data on what works.

(Opposed) None.