SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT MENTAL HEALTH.

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View NCGA Bill Details2021
House Bill 436 (Public) Filed Monday, March 29, 2021
AN ACT TO REQUIRE PSYCHOLOGICAL SCREENINGS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS PRIOR TO CERTIFICATION OR EMPLOYMENT; TO EDUCATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON MAINTAINING GOOD MENTAL HEALTH, AND TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AVAILABLE; AND TO CREATE A PHYSICAL FITNESS STUDY.
Intro. by K. Baker, Szoka, Hunter.
Status: Ch. SL 2021-136 (Sep 2 2021)

SOG comments (1):

Long title change

Submitted by ddecamillis@sog... on

Senate committee substitute to the 2nd edition changed the long title. Original title was AN ACT TO REQUIRE PSYCHOLOGICAL SCREENINGS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS PRIOR TO CERTIFICATION OR EMPLOYMENT, TO EDUCATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON MAINTAINING GOOD MENTAL HEALTH, AND TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AVAILABLE.

Bill History:

H 436/S.L. 2021-136

Bill Summaries:

  • Bill H 436 (2021-2022)
    Summary date: Sep 3 2021 - View Summary

    AN ACT TO REQUIRE PSYCHOLOGICAL SCREENINGS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS PRIOR TO CERTIFICATION OR EMPLOYMENT; TO EDUCATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON MAINTAINING GOOD MENTAL HEALTH, AND TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AVAILABLE; AND TO CREATE A PHYSICAL FITNESS STUDY. SL 2021-136. Enacted Sept. 2, 2021. Subsections (a) through (d) are effective January 1, 2022. The remainder is effective Sept. 2, 2021.

    Business and Commerce, Occupational Licensing, Courts/Judiciary, Criminal Justice, Employment and Retirement, Government, Public Safety and Emergency Management, Local Government, Health and Human Services, Mental Health
    STUDY, GS 17C, GS 17E
  • Bill H 436 (2021-2022)
    Summary date: Aug 25 2021 - View Summary

    Senate amendment to the 3rd edition makes organizational and clarifying changes to the act's effective date provisions. 

    Business and Commerce, Occupational Licensing, Courts/Judiciary, Criminal Justice, Employment and Retirement, Government, Public Safety and Emergency Management, Local Government, Health and Human Services, Mental Health
    STUDY, GS 17C, GS 17E
  • Bill H 436 (2021-2022)
    Summary date: Aug 18 2021 - View Summary

    Senate committee substitute amends the 2nd edition as follows. 

    Makes organizational changes to the act and makes conforming changes to the act's provisions to reflect those organizational changes.

    Revises the proposed changes to GS 17C-10, concerning the NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and criminal justice officers, and GS 17E-7, concerning the NC Sheriff's Education and Training Standards Commission and justice officers, to require both Commissions to include the administration of a psychological screening exam prior to initial certification or the performance of any action requiring certification (was, prior to certification or employment) to determine the officer's mental and emotional suitability to properly fulfill the responsibilities of a criminal justice or justice officer, respectively. Now requires the administration of a psychological screening exam to include a face-to-face, in-person interview (was, in-person interview) conducted by a licensed phycologist (was, a licensed clinical psychologist). Adds a new provision to each statute to allow the face-to-face evaluation to be virtual so long as both the audio and video allow for a professional clinical evaluation in a clinical environment when face-to-face, in-person is not practicable. 

    Changes the effective date of the statutory changes set forth in the act. Makes the proposed changes to GS Chapters 17C and 17E effective January 1, 2022 (was, effective on the date the act becomes law). 

    Modifies the provisions encouraging the Commissions to adopt standards that provide training conducted by mental health professionals to specify that the act encourages face-to-face instruction (was, in-person instruction). 

    Adds a new directive requiring the Commissions to jointly study the benefits, if any, of requiring physical fitness testing throughout the career of a law enforcement officer and whether that testing, if required, should be incrementally adjusted based upon the age of the officer. Directs the Commissions to report to the specified NCGA committee by March 31, 2022.

    Changes the act's long title. 

    Business and Commerce, Occupational Licensing, Courts/Judiciary, Criminal Justice, Employment and Retirement, Government, Public Safety and Emergency Management, Local Government, Health and Human Services, Mental Health
    STUDY, GS 17C, GS 17E
  • Bill H 436 (2021-2022)
    Summary date: Apr 20 2021 - View Summary

    House committee substitute amends the 1st edition as follows. 

    Revises the proposed changes to GS 17C-10, concerning the NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and criminal justice officers, and GS 17E-7, concerning the NC Sheriff's Education and Training Standards Commission and justice officers, which require both Commissions to include the administration of a psychological screening exam prior to certification or employment to determine the officer's mental and emotional suitability to properly fulfill the responsibilities of a criminal justice or justice officer, respectively. Now more specifically requires the administration of a psychological screening exam to include an in-person interview conducted by a licensed clinical psychologist, and requires the examination to be given prior to the initial certification and before the criminal justice officer or justice officer is employed by an agency.

    Business and Commerce, Occupational Licensing, Courts/Judiciary, Criminal Justice, Employment and Retirement, Government, Public Safety and Emergency Management, Local Government, Health and Human Services, Mental Health
    GS 17C, GS 17E
  • Bill H 436 (2021-2022)
    Summary date: Mar 29 2021 - View Summary

    Amends GS 17C-10, concerning the NC Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission and criminal justice officers, and GS 17E-7, concerning the NC Sheriff's Education and Training Standards Commission and justice officers, to require both Commissions to include the administration of a psychological screening exam prior to certification or employment to determine the officer's mental and emotional suitability to properly fulfill the responsibilities of a criminal justice or justice officer, respectively. 

    Amends GS 17C-6 and GS 17E-4 to require both Commissions to include in the minimum educational and training standards for entry level employment, education and training to develop knowledge and increase awareness of effective mental health and wellness strategies for criminal justice officers and justice officers, respectively. Adds identical requirements to the minimum standards for in-service training for criminal justice officers and justice officers, adding that the standards established to meet the requirement must include two hours of training on the issue every three years. Encourages adopting standards that provide training conducted by mental health professionals and through in-person instruction. 

    Requires implementation of the above provisions by January 1, 2022. Provides that the requirements apply to certifications issued and employees entering employment on or after the implementation date of those requirements.

    Requires both Commissions to regularly provide information on any statewide mental health resources specifically available to criminal justice officers or justice officers to all criminal justice agencies or departments in the state that employ officers certified by either Commission. 

    Requires all criminal justice agencies or departments in the state that employ certified criminal justice officers or certified justice officers to coordinate with the appropriate LME/MCO or prepaid health plan to make information on State and local mental health resources and programs easily available to all employees and develop policies to encourage employees to utilize the resources available. 

    Business and Commerce, Occupational Licensing, Courts/Judiciary, Criminal Justice, Employment and Retirement, Government, Public Safety and Emergency Management, Local Government, Health and Human Services, Mental Health
    GS 17C, GS 17E
View: All Summaries for Bill