summary
Introduced
02/06/2026
02/06/2026
In Committee
05/13/2026
05/13/2026
Crossed Over
05/07/2026
05/07/2026
Passed
05/31/2026
05/31/2026
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Reinserts the provisions of Senate Amendment No. 1 with the following changes. In provisions amending the Emergency Telephone System Act, provides that the Office of the Statewide 9-1-1 Administrator shall, with input from the Statewide 9-1-1 Advisory Board, relevant stakeholders, and subject matter experts, adopt rules to implement the requirement that the Board consult with the Department of Human Services to ensure PSAP compliance with the Community Emergency Services and Support Act. In provisions amending the Community Emergency Services and Support Act, defines "emergency dispatch protocol" as a nationally recognized protocol established under the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act approved by the local medical director in coordination with the local PSAP and appropriate local responders. Provides that Mobile Crisis Response and 9-8-8 are both around-the-clock crisis services that must be considered alongside other crisis resources when initially screening an individual contacting a 9-1-1 PSAP. Provides that, when indicated, 9-1-1 PSAPs shall open and use relevant emergency dispatch protocol to ensure all individuals contacting a 9-1-1 PSAP when a behavioral health crisis is indicated have access to a non-law enforcement, behavioral health response. Removes provisions providing that 9-1-1 PSAPs shall screen specific types of law enforcement calls and follow approved protocols and processes. Removes provisions providing that 9-1-1 PSAPs shall open and follow the emergency dispatch protocol at the start of all emergency calls when appropriate to ensure the protocols are used and applied consistently and uniformly and to ensure that information related to behavioral health emergency calls is available for data collection and can be used to determine which calls should be referred for a behavioral health response. Removes provisions authorizing rulemaking by the Department. Makes other changes.
AI Summary
This bill aims to improve the response to mental health crises by ensuring that 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), which are the primary locations that receive emergency calls, are better integrated with mental health services. It mandates that PSAPs consider both Mobile Crisis Response teams and the 9-8-8 crisis line as around-the-clock resources when initially screening individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis, and that they use established "emergency dispatch protocols" to connect these individuals with non-law enforcement behavioral health responses when appropriate. The bill also clarifies that the Department of Human Services, specifically its Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, will oversee these mobile crisis response services, and it tasks the Office of the Statewide 9-1-1 Administrator with ensuring PSAP compliance with these new requirements, in consultation with the Department of Human Services. Importantly, the bill removes previous provisions that required PSAPs to screen specific types of law enforcement calls and to universally apply emergency dispatch protocols to all calls, shifting the focus to a more targeted approach for behavioral health crises.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (9)
Kelly Cassidy (D)*,
Robert Peters (D)*,
Mary Edly-Allen (D),
Mattie Hunter (D),
Adriane Johnson (D),
Yolonda Morris (D),
Mike Simmons (D),
Steve Stadelman (D),
Celina Villanueva (D),
Last Action
Passed Both Houses (on 05/31/2026)
Taxonomy
Health
- ‐ Emergency and Pre-Hospital Care
- ‐ Mental Illness, Mental Retardation, and Deinstitutionalization
Law, Crime, and Family Issues
- ‐ Police, Fire, and Law Enforcement
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...