Bill > HB3131

This bill mandates that when emergency dispatchers classify a call as "mental-health related," a behavioral health specialist, who is a licensed clinician like a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, counselor, or nurse, must be dispatched alongside law enforcement officers. This approach, known as "co-response," aims to provide a multidisciplinary partnership to address behavioral health crises and individuals with complex medical needs. While law enforcement may initially secure a scene if there's an immediate risk of violence, the co-response team will be dispatched once the scene is safe. For less critical situations without indicated threats, a team of behavioral health professionals without law enforcement may respond. To ensure proper classification of calls, dispatchers will receive training in crisis identification and triage, and uniform protocols will be developed. Additionally, peace officers responding to emergencies will be required to complete at least forty hours of specialized training in behavioral health crisis response, with annual refreshers, covering topics such as recognizing conditions, de-escalation, trauma-informed approaches, and legal aspects. The bill also establishes a "Behavioral Health Co-Responder Grant Fund" to support hiring and training behavioral health professionals, data collection, and grants for rural or underserved areas, with provisions for reporting on key indicators and outcomes.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB3131&year=2026&code=R