Bill Analysis — HB 1661, Establishing a pilot project for mobile mental health

Summary

House Bill Analysis of HB 1661, prepared by the Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research for the Innovation, Community & Economic Development, & Veterans Committee, with a hearing date of 2/7/23. The brief description is establishing a pilot project for mobile mental health crisis intervention, and the staff contact is Cassie Jones. The analysis states that the Military Department's Emergency Management Division must establish the emergency crisis assistance team pilot project. It states that grant recipients must report to the Military Department by October 1, 2024, and that the grant program expires January 1, 2025. It lists Appropriation: None and a fiscal note requested on February 2, 2023.

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Washington State                  BILL
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research   ANALYSIS
Innovation, Community & Economic
Development, & Veterans Committee
                                        HB 1661
Brief Description: Establishing a pilot project for mobile mental health crisis intervention.

Sponsors: Representatives Maycumber, Springer, Robertson, Chapman, Mosbrucker, Rule,
    Eslick, Taylor and Paul.


                                     Brief Summary of Bill
          • Requires the Military Department to establish a competitive grant
            program to award funding to emergency crisis assistance teams that
            provide mobile mental health crisis intervention for crises involving
            mental illness, homelessness, and addiction.


Hearing Date: 2/7/23

Staff: Cassie Jones (786-7303).

Background:

A mobile crisis team typically includes a group of trained health professionals who can provide a
range of services, such as nurses, social workers, and psychiatrists. While mobile crisis teams
vary depending on the jurisdiction, they generally are not operated by law enforcement agencies.
They may be operated by community mental health organizations, hospitals, or government
agencies. Mobile crisis teams may be included as part of a comprehensive crisis services system
or act as a sole model. Mobile crisis teams may have the ability to administer medication, refer
people to addiction treatment, connect people to crisis care, and provide follow-up support.
They may provide on-scene assistance, or they may conduct follow-up with individuals after
being called by first responders or a mental health agency.




     This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
     members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it
     constitute a statement of legislative intent.

House Bill Analysis                             -1-                                         HB 1661
The Military Department, under the direction of the Adjutant General, administers the state's
comprehensive program of emergency management. The Adjutant General is responsible for
developing a comprehensive, all-hazard emergency plan for the state, known as the
Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, that includes an analysis of natural,
technological, or human-caused hazards and procedures to coordinate state and local resources in
responding to such hazards.

Summary of Bill:

The Military Department's Emergency Management Division must establish the emergency
crisis assistance team pilot project. The purpose of the project is to create two emergency crisis
assistance teams that support community-based public safety and provide mobile mental health
crisis intervention for crises involving mental illness, homelessness, and addiction.

The Military Department must establish a competitive grant program to award funding for two
emergency crisis assistance teams by September 1, 2023. The Military Department must award
two grants, one to an eligible applicant in a city west of the crest of the Cascade mountains and
one to an eligible applicant in a city east of the crest of the Cascade mountains.

Mental health care service providers are eligible to compete for grant funding. Grant recipients
must use grant funds to establish an emergency crisis assistance team that provides the following
mobile mental health crisis intervention programs and services:
   • crisis counseling;
   • suicide prevention, assessment, and intervention;
   • conflict resolution and mediation;
   • grief and loss counseling;
   • substance abuse prevention, assessment, and intervention;
   • housing crisis aid;
   • first aid and nonemergency medical care;
   • resource connection and referrals; and
   • transportation to services.

Grant recipients must provide a report to the Military Department on the results of their
emergency crisis assistance teams by October 1, 2024. The Military Department must provide a
report on the emergency crisis assistance team pilot project to the Governor and appropriate
committees of the Legislature by December 1, 2024. The grant program expires January 1,
2025.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 2, 2023.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is
passed.


House Bill Analysis                             -2-                                        HB 1661


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