Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Mental Health Emergency Responder Act.
(a) Establishment
The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall establish a competitive grant program (in this section referred to as the program) to assist eligible entities in developing or expanding behavioral health crisis response programs that do not rely primarily on law enforcement.
(b) Eligible entities
The following entities shall be eligible to receive grants under the program—
(1) a local or Tribal government;
(2) a regional emergency medical services agency or fire department;
(3) a certified community behavioral health clinic, as defined by section 1905(jj) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(jj)); and
(4) a nonprofit organization in partnership with a local government or health authority.
(c) Use of grant funds
Grant funds received by an eligible entity under the program may be used—
(1) to recruit, train, and equip behavioral health professionals and paramedics for a behavioral health crisis response;
(2) to integrate co-response teams into 911 or 988 call dispatch systems;
(3) to provide community education and outreach regarding alternatives to police-led crisis response;
(4) to develop or implement protocols to enable emergency medical services agencies to accept custody of civilians from police for transport to mental health facilities, if permitted under State law; and
(5) to establish emergency medical services agencies, or clinician-led mobile crisis teams, as the primary responders to behavioral health emergencies in lieu of law enforcement, in a manner consistent with State and local laws.
(d) Limitation on statutory construction
Nothing in this section shall be construed—
(1) to require any State or local government to modify an emergency detention or custody law; or
(2) to authorize any entity to engage in emergency detention or involuntary transport beyond what is permitted under an applicable State law.
(e) Reporting requirement
The Secretary shall require each recipient of a grant under the program to submit to the Secretary, during such period of time as the Secretary determines appropriate, an annual report detailing response outcomes, diversion rates, and community feedback.
(f) Priority consideration
In awarding grants under the program, the Secretary shall prioritize applications from eligible entities located in jurisdictions that do not currently operate a non-law enforcement behavioral health crisis response program, or whose existing programs are limited in scope or capacity.
(g) Co-Response team defined
In this section, the term co-response team means a team that includes at least one behavioral health professional (such as a licensed clinician or social worker) and at least one emergency medical services provider, firefighter, or peace officer who jointly respond to behavioral health crisis calls in real time.