HF265

This bill, known as Brent’s Law, aims to improve how emergency services respond to mental health crises. It proposes changes to ensure that when someone calls 911 during a mental health emergency, they are directed to specialized mental health crisis teams, rather than solely police or medical services. The bill requires that:

1. The 911 system includes mental health crisis response as a primary option.
2. Emergency call operators receive training to recognize mental health crises.
3. The Statewide Emergency Communications Board monitors compliance with these new protocols.

Additionally, the bill creates legal consequences for government entities that fail to properly operate these systems, allowing individuals affected by such failures to seek damages, including attorney fees. Essentially, this legislation aims to make mental health crisis responses more effective and to hold responsible parties accountable for failures in the service.