Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training; establishing the Mental Health Response Pilot Program and Revolving Fund. Effective date.
Summary
SB 217 creates a five-year Mental Health Response Pilot Program within the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET). The program is designed to certify licensed mental health professionals so they can assist law enforcement officers in responding to individuals experiencing mental health crises. CLEET is directed to develop the program, determine participating agencies, and adopt rules to administer it.
The bill specifies how certified mental health professionals would be assigned: two large agencies serving populations over 300,000 would receive 15 professionals each; two mid-sized agencies serving populations between 25,000 and 300,000 would receive 6 professionals each; and two county sheriffs’ offices not already covered by those categories would receive 1 professional each. The bill also creates a dedicated revolving fund in the State Treasury to receive appropriations, donations, grants, or other funding for the pilot and authorizes CLEET to spend those monies for the program. The act would take effect November 1, 2025.
Impact
SB 217 would add new statutory provisions to Title 70 establishing a pilot mental health response program and a corresponding revolving fund for CLEET. It would expand CLEET’s responsibilities beyond traditional law enforcement training to include certification of licensed mental health professionals for crisis-response support, and it would authorize the agency to promulgate rules and expend dedicated funds for that purpose. The bill would affect CLEET, participating law enforcement agencies, county sheriffs’ offices, and licensed mental health professionals selected for certification and deployment.
Sentiment
The available legislative history shows the bill moving through early referral stages, with no recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials. Based on the bill’s structure and purpose, the measure appears to be framed as a public safety and behavioral health response initiative, suggesting generally supportive intent toward improving crisis intervention. However, because no transcript or vote data are included, there is no direct evidence of formal support or opposition in the record provided.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are likely to be the scope, cost, and implementation of the pilot program. Questions may arise about why specific agencies and staffing levels were selected, how CLEET will recruit and certify mental health professionals, and whether the revolving fund will receive sufficient and sustainable financing. There may also be debate over whether mental health professionals should be integrated into law enforcement response in this way, and how the program would coordinate with existing crisis services, sheriffs’ offices, and local agencies.
Carry Over
Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training; establishing the Mental Health Response Pilot Program and Revolving Fund. Effective date.