HB 1816 — Concerning civilian-staffed crisis response teams.

H-1486.1H-1089.1 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1816 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans (originally sponsored by Representatives Scott, Parshley, Farivar, Dufault, Fitzgibbon, Davis, Goodman, Obras, Taylor, Pollet, Nance, Ryu, Hill, and Cortes)Cortes READRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/20/25.02/04/25.

Referred to Committee on Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans.

(1) A politicalcity subdivision with a population of more than 200,000500,000 residents may establish and maintain a civilian-staffed crisis response team operating outside of a general authority Washington law enforcement agencyagency. to support the political subdivision's goal of providing a nonlaw enforcement response to individuals in crisis, in need of a safety and welfare check, or a request for resources, whenever such a response is appropriate.

(2) The crisis response team is authorized to serve as athe primary response to 911 calls or on-view events when there is no report of active or imminent violence or possession of weapons and when the calls or events are regarding:

(3) For calls not included in subsection (2) of this section, the crisis response team may also serve as a secondary response in p.

1 HB 1816 support of a law enforcement response as determined by the executive head of the city.

(4) The executive head of the city will set minimum qualifications for crisis responders that must include training in scene safety, de-escalation, and interacting with individuals in crisis.

(5) The executive head of the city may determine the characteristics of the crisis response team including, but not limited to:

(a) The department in which the crisis response team is situated;

(b) The number of staff assigned to the crisis response team and their required qualifications, consistent with the minimum qualifications set forth in subsection (4) of this section;

(c) The deployable areas and hours of operation;

and (d) The specific types of calls in which primary 911 dispatch is appropriate, consistent with the criteria set forth in subsection (2) of this section.

(6) For any collective bargaining agreement covering law enforcement personnel with an effective date on or after January 1, 2026, any provision in conflict with this section is preempted and is unenforceable.

A city covered by this section is prohibited from collectively bargaining with a bargaining unit representing law enforcement personnel in regard to the transfer of the 911 response duties in subsection (2) of this section to a civilian-staffed crisis response team.

(7) Any provision in a collective bargaining agreement covering law enforcement personnel with an effective date prior to January 1, 2026, that conflicts with this section or limits a city's ability to fully comply with this section may not be extended or renewed beyond the expiration date of the collective bargaining agreement.

(8) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 41.56 RCW, a city covered by this section is prohibited from collectively bargaining with a bargaining unit representing law enforcement personnel in regard to any decisions made by the executive head of a city pursuant to subsections (3), (4), and (5) of this section.

However, to the extent such decisions impact the wages, hours, and other working conditions of law enforcement personnel, such impacts are subject to collective bargaining to the extent required by chapter 41.56 RCW.

12 SHBHB 1816 (3)Sec. For calls not included in subsection (2) of this section, the crisis response team may also serve as a secondary response in support of a law enforcement response as determined by the executive head of the political subdivision.

(4) The crisis response team is authorized to initiate a field response when the team observes an event that meets the criteria in subsection (2) of this section.

(5)(a) The executive head of an eligible political subdivision will consult with any of the following entities that are active within the political subdivision's jurisdiction to set minimum qualifications for the crisis response team:

(i) The Washington health care authority;

(ii) The behavioral health administrative services organization serving the political subdivision's jurisdiction;

(iii) The operators of mobile crisis teams administered by the behavioral health administrative services organization;

or (iv) The 988 call center hub for the region.

(b) The executive head must solicit input from the entities in (a) of this subsection on the crisis response team's:

(i) Services provided;

(ii) Qualifications;

(iii) Training;

(iv) Types of calls in which primary 911 dispatch is appropriate;

(v) Deployable areas;

and (vi) Hours of operation.

(c) Minimum qualifications must include training in scene safety, de-escalation, and interacting with individuals in crisis.

(d) The executive head of the political subdivision may determine the characteristics of the crisis response team including, but not limited to:

(i) The department in which the crisis response team is situated;

and (ii) The number of staff assigned to the crisis response team.

(6) The alternative 911 response constituted in this section is deemed a third 911 first responder, parallel to law enforcement and fire response.

The wages, hours, and other working conditions of all first responder personnel shall be subject to collective bargaining pursuant to chapter 41.56 RCW.

The scope of responsibilities to be responded to by alternative 911 first response shall fall outside of p.

2 SHB 1816 a general authority Washington law enforcement agency and outside of a general authority Washington fire response.

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