Bill to aid law enforcement with mental health calls heads to Gov. Youngkin's desk - WSET

RICHMOND, Va (WSET) — Changes could be coming soon to help law enforcement handle mental health calls.

These calls can take hours or even days. By law, law enforcement is required to bring an individual in need of mental health services to a hospital for an evaluation. If the evaluation determines they need more service, the admission process into a state mental health facility begins.

This process can be quite time-consuming, which can take law enforcement off the street and delay the time it takes to get to your 911 calls.

Republican Sen. Steve Newman introduced SB 202, which is a more long-term solution.

It requires both the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and Public Safety and Homeland Security to study ways to better handle mental health calls. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and recently passed in the House this week.

"We really need to find the nationwide best practice for this, so we can actually take care of those that are mentally ill. But more importantly, make sure we get those police officers back on the street," said Sen. Newman.

He also proposed SB 593 which is a temporary fix.

This bill includes alternative ways to transport a person in need of mental health services when a temporary detention order (TDO) is issued.

Auxiliary officers would execute the ECO instead of officers and deputies. The auxiliary officers would be trained within three weeks to then handle mental health calls.

The bill passed unanimously in the Senate. The House is set to vote on this soon.

source: https://wset.com/news/local/bill-to-aid-law-enforcement-with-mental-health-calls-heads-to-gov-youngkins-desk-va-house-senate-mental-illness-tdo-steve-newman-richmond-virginia

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