Bill > HB597

This bill establishes a designated behavioral health access point within the enhanced 911 (E911) system to better handle non-emergent mental health and behavioral health crisis calls. The bill defines a "designated behavioral health access point" as a centralized crisis operations center that serves as a statewide entry point for individuals experiencing non-emergent behavioral health issues, such as mental health crises, suicidal thoughts, substance use disorder crises, or emotional challenges. The legislation modifies existing laws to enable public safety answering points (911 call centers) to transfer non-emergent calls to this specialized access point instead of dispatching emergency services. The bill also allows the department of safety to share specific information obtained from these calls with community mental health centers and emergency services agencies, while maintaining certain privacy protections. Information can be shared for purposes like tracking call trends and ensuring quality of service, with limitations on what details can be disclosed. The new system aims to provide more appropriate and targeted support for individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges, potentially reducing unnecessary emergency service deployments and connecting people more directly with mental health resources. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage.

Health and Social Services, Justice

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0827&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB597