Signed by Governor Brian Kemp

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House substitute and pass a bill that establishes a mental health co-responder program with law enforcement.

Highlights:

• Requires all community service boards to establish programs to assist police officers in responding to mental health crises, with which law enforcement agencies may choose to partner (Sec. 2).

• Requires a community service board member to accompany law enforcement officers on all mental health calls, should the law enforcement agency choose to partner with the board (Sec. 2).

• Requires community service boards to employ mental health professionals available on-call at all times (Sec. 4).

• Requires law enforcement agencies that choose to partner with the community services board to designate 1 or more peace officers as co-responders (Sec. 5).

• Requires community service board members to receive training on the operations of any law enforcement agencies with which they partner (Sec. 6).

• Specifies that law enforcement officers have the final procedural decision when law enforcement and community service co-responders disagree (Sec. 7).

• Requires the community service board to follow up with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis 2 days after the associated call (Sec. 9).

• Authorizes the community service board to recommend an individual be treated within a behavioral health institution rather than be incarcerated (Sec. 10).

Full Bill Text