Bill will match police officers with mental health professionals to address homelessness and public safety
August 5, 2022 - WASHINGTON - Representative Josh Harder has introduced the Supporting the Health and Safety of Law Enforcement Act. The bill would create a new grant program to support 
coordination between community mental health centers and law enforcement officers on mental health issues including homelessness and public safety. The bill is supported by the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), the largest law enforcement organization in California, representing approximately 75,000 public safety members and 930 public safety associations across the State.
Click here to read PORAC’s letter of support for the bill.
“I’ve been on ride alongs in every corner of my district and the police and sheriffs all say the same thing: they need more resources to deal with individuals experiencing mental health emergencies. Today, I’m introducing a bill that will match that need with real resources, so every officer has what they need to keep our community safe,” said Rep. Harder. “This bill will provide new grants for our police and sheriffs to partner with community mental health centers so those experiencing a mental health episode are met with a mental health professional in addition to an officer. That means fewer folks on the streets and safer communities for all of us.”
“PORAC is pleased to offer its support for this legislation and thanks Congressman Harder for his leadership on this initiative. By placing social workers alongside peace officers when responding to mental health emergencies, better and safer outcomes are possible,” said Brian Marvel, President of the Peace Officers Research Association of California. “California has a similar pilot program, the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT), which has been extraordinarily successful. If enacted, this bill will help PERT and similar programs expand across the country.”
The Supporting the Health and Safety of Law Enforcement Act would establish a three-year pilot program through the Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide grant funding up to $300,000 over three years to facilitate closer coordination between community mental health centers and law enforcement. Following the pilot program, the DOJ would be required to issue a report to Congress regarding the program's effectiveness.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, two million people with mental health issues are booked into jail every year and nearly 15% of men and 30% of women booked into jails have a serious mental health condition.
Source: Congressman Josh Harder
