SB 5970 — Establishing the crisis intervention response team pilot project.

S-4764.1SECONDS-2951.1SENATE SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5970State of Washington65th Legislature2018Legislature2017 Regular3rd Special SessionBy Senate Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Frockt, Saldaña, O'Ban, and Palumbo)READPalumboRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/06/18.AN06/29/17. ACT Relating to the mental health field response teams program;

andReferred adding a new section to chapterCommittee 36.28Aon RCW.BELaw IT& ENACTEDJustice.AN BYACT THERelating LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 36.28A RCW to read as follows:(1) Subject to the availabilitycrisis ofintervention amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs shall develop and implement a mental health field response team grantpilot program.project;

Theadding purposenew ofsections the program is to assistchapter local43.101 lawRCW; enforcement agencies to develop and operate mental health field response team capabilities, utilizing mental health professionals to professionally, humanely, and safely respond to encounters involving persons with mental health issues.

Acreating portiona ofnew thesection; grant funds may also be used to develop data management capability to support the program.(2) Grants must be awarded to local law enforcement agencies based on locally developed proposals to incorporate mental health professionals into the agencies' mental health field response planning and response.

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NothingThe inallocation thisof subsectiongrant (3)funds requireswill orfacilitate limits the mentalimplementation healthof professional'sthis participationinnovative inapproach, fieldand patrol.(4)also Withincreate existingan resources,opportunity theto Washingtonmeasure associationpossible ofoutcomes sheriffsthrough anda policestudy chiefsconducted shall:(a)by Consult with the departmentWashington ofstate socialinstitute and health services research and data analysis unit to establish data collection and reporting guidelines for grantpublic recipients.policy.

The datalegislature willaims beto usedfoster peaceful resolution to studyvolatile situations, and evaluateultimately whethersave taxpayer dollars, by directly acknowledging and addressing behavioral health crises with the usecombined efforts and expertise of law enforcement and mental health fieldprofessionals.NEW responseSECTION.  Sec. 2.  A teamsnew improvessection outcomesis ofadded interactionsto withchapter persons43.101 experiencingRCW behavioralto healthread crises,as includingfollows:(1) reducingSubject ratesto the availability of violenceamounts andappropriated harm,for reducedthis arrests,specific andpurpose, jailthe orcrisis emergencyintervention roomresponse usage;team pilot project is created within the commission.

and(b)The Consultpurpose withof the departmentproject is to create crisis intervention response teams composed of socialqualified andlaw healthenforcement servicesand behavioralmental health administrationprofessionals andto therespond managedprofessionally, carehumanely, systemand safely to developcrises requirementsinvolving forpersons participatingwith mentalbehavioral health professionals.(5)issues.(2)(a) The Washingtoncommission associationshall ofaward sheriffstwo andgrants, policeone chiefsto shallan submiteligible anapplicant annualwest reportof tothe crest of the governorCascade mountains and appropriateone committeesto an eligible applicant east of the legislaturecrest onof the program.Cascade mountains.(b) Eligible applicants include law enforcement agencies with:

TheA reportneed mustfor includecrisis informationintervention onprofessionals grant recipients, use of funds, participation of mental health professionals, and feedback from the grant recipients by December 1st of each year the program is funded.(6) Grant recipients shall develop and provide or arrange for trainingresponding necessary for mental health professionals to operatecalls successfullyfor andservice competently in partnershipthe withfield; law enforcement agencies.

The training must provide the professionals with a workingcommitment knowledge of law enforcement procedures and tools sufficient to provideimproving forcrisis theintervention safetythrough ofmodifying theor professionals,expanding partneredupon law enforcement officers,practices; and members of the public.--- END ---

and a commitment to partnering with mental health professionals.

In evaluating grant applications, the commission shall consult with the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs and behavioral health organizations.

Grants must be reviewed and awarded through peer review panels.(c) Grant recipients must be selected and receiving funds no later than June 30, 2018.(3) Grant recipients must:(a) Establish at least four and no more than twelve crisis intervention response teams with grant funds;(b) Include on each crisis intervention team one experienced law enforcement officer who has completed enhanced crisis intervention training under RCW 43.101.427 and one person designated as a mental health professional by the department of social and health services who has completed training under section 3 of this act;

the officer and mental health professional must be assigned as partners and patrol together;(c) Use crisis intervention teams to:

(i) Assist law enforcement officers with service calls necessitating crisis intervention;

(ii) conduct proactive and follow-up investigations related to crisis intervention;

(iii) appropriately corespond to calls involving special weapons and tactics teams or other enhanced teams;

(iv) directly lead and handle the agency's most serious crisis intervention calls;

and (v) where appropriate, educate and train other officers in the agency on best practices for crisis intervention.(4) The commission shall:(a) Adopt policies and procedures necessary to administer the project, including for evaluating and selecting grant recipients, monitoring use of grant funds, and collecting and evaluating data to assess the effectiveness of the project;(b) Consult with the Washington state institute for public policy to establish data collection and reporting guidelines for grant recipients in order for the institute to conduct the study under section 4 of this act;

and(c) Consult with the department of social and health services to develop requirements for mental health professionals participating in the project.(5) The commission shall submit an annual report to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature on the project, including information on selected grant recipients, use of funds, number of teams, and an assessment and input by the commission and grant recipients, by December 1st of each year the project is funded.(6) This section expires July 1, 2022.NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 43.101 RCW to read as follows:(1) The commission shall provide training for mental health professionals participating in the crisis intervention response team pilot project under section 2 of this act.(2) The commission shall develop and provide training necessary for mental health professionals to operate successfully and competently as part of crisis intervention response teams.

The training must provide the professionals with a working knowledge of law enforcement procedures and tools sufficient to provide for the safety of the professionals, partnered law enforcement officers, and members of the public.(3) All mental health professionals participating in the project must complete the training under this section prior to operating in the field with a crisis intervention response team, unless the commission provides a written waiver to the professional.

A written waiver may only be provided if the professional demonstrates a full understanding and competency of the training materials and curriculum.(4) The commission shall provide the training required in this section, together with facilities, supplies, materials, and the room and board for noncommuting attendees.(5) This section expires July 1, 2022.NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 43.101 RCW to read as follows:(1) The Washington state institute for public policy, in consultation with the commission, shall develop data collection and reporting guidelines for the commission to require of grant recipients under section 2 of this act.

The institute shall conduct a study on whether the use of crisis intervention response teams improves outcomes of interactions with persons experiencing behavioral health crises, including reducing rates of violence and harm and other measurable effects identified by the institute.(2) This section expires July 1, 2022.--- END ---