Bill > H504

This bill establishes a pilot co-responder program in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, appropriating a total of $474,680 from the General Fund for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to support mental health crisis response. The funding will be distributed to three local municipalities - Matthews, Pineville, and Mint Hill - to hire one full-time mental health professional for each jurisdiction who will be integrated directly with local law enforcement agencies. These mental health professionals will be paired with police officers, either as part of a dedicated team or specialized unit, to respond to calls involving mental health crises. The goal of the program is to improve response to incidents involving individuals experiencing mental health distress by providing a more compassionate and specialized approach that combines law enforcement and mental health expertise. Each town will receive a specific allocation: Matthews will get $131,280, while Pineville and Mint Hill will each receive $171,700. The program is set to begin on July 1, 2025, marking the start of this innovative approach to addressing mental health emergencies in the community.

Budget and Finance

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H504