Bill Summary for H 786 (2021-2022)

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Summary date: 

May 3 2021

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2021
House Bill 786 (Public) Filed Monday, May 3, 2021
AN ACT TO CREATE A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE GRANTS TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN ORDER TO ENHANCE RESPONSES TO MENTAL OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISES.
Intro. by Autry, Lambeth, White, Ball.

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Bill summary

Appropriates $2 million for 2021-22 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Safety to be distributed as grants to either municipal police departments or county sheriffs' offices as follows: (1) $800,000 to establish eight nonpolice response units with a grant of $100,000 each; (2) $700,000 to establish seven co-responder response models with a grant of $100,000 each; and (3) $500,000 to increase the amount of law enforcement officers and 911 communications personnel that have received Crisis Intervention Training. Requires the funds to be awarded as five separate grants of $100,000 each. Requires the grants to be used to establish: (1) nonpolice units to address nonviolent, noncriminal 911 calls regarding mental health, homelessness, substance use, or other behavioral health crises; (2) co-responder response models in which law enforcement personnel and mental health specialists jointly respond to 911 calls regarding mental or behavioral health crises; and/or (3) 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. Requires the grants to be awarded to police departments and sheriffs' 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. Requires grant recipients to report on 10 specified items by February 1, 2023, to the Department of Public Safety.

Requires the Department of Public Safety, in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Services, to report by March 1, 2023, to the specified NCGA committee on the pilot programs funded by this act including the information provided to the Department of Public Safety by grant recipients.

Effective July 1, 2021.