US S515

Bill

Mental Health Justice Act of 2021

Introduced
03/01/2021

In Committee
03/01/2021

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
01/03/2023

Introduced Session

117th Congress

Bill Summary

A BILL To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to States and political subdivisions of States to hire, employ, train, and dispatch mental health professionals to respond in lieu of law enforcement offi- cers in emergencies involving one or more persons with a mental illness or an intellectual or developmental dis- ability, and for other purposes.

AI Summary

This bill, the Mental Health Justice Act of 2021, authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to states and local governments to hire, train, and dispatch mental health professionals to respond to emergencies involving individuals with mental illness or intellectual/developmental disabilities, instead of law enforcement officers. The bill requires the training of these mental health professionals in de-escalation and anti-racism principles, and ensures they link individuals to voluntary community-based services. The Secretary is also required to provide technical assistance and conduct a study on the effectiveness of these programs in diverting individuals from arrests and improving outcomes.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (3)

Elizabeth Warren (D)*, Cory Booker (D), Amy Klobuchar (D),

Last Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (on 03/01/2021)

Official Document

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/515/all-info

(4 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/515/all-info
BillText	https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s515/BILLS-117s515is.pdf
Bill	https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/s515/BILLS-117s515is.pdf.pdf

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
HR1368	Mental Health Justice Act of 2021	House Committee on Rules Hearing (12:00 7/29/2022 H-313 CAPITOL)	Related
HR7254	Mental Health Justice and Parity Act of 2022	Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.	Related
HR8542	Mental Health Justice Act of 2022	Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.	Related
HRes1377	Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4118) to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to build safer, thriving communities, and save lives, by investing in effective community-based violence reduction initiatives, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5768) to direct the Attorney General to establish a grant program to establish, create, and administer the violent incident clearance and technology investigative method, and for other purposes;	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.	Similar To

Bill > S515

US S515

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

bill summary

bill summary

bill summary