Mental Health Justice Act of 2021

Senate Bill 515 - Mental Health Justice Act of 2021: Overview, Status, and Impact

Hozzl · 2023-01-11T13:47:51Z

Explore the details of Senate Bill 515 Mental Health Justice Act of 2021 currently in Congress. Get insights into its purpose, current status, sponsors, and potential impact on Health. Stay informed on legislative developments.

1/11/2023, 1:47 PM

Congressional Summary of S 515

Mental Health Justice Act of 2021

This bill creates a grant program for states and local governments to train and dispatch mental health professionals to respond, instead of law enforcement officers, to emergencies that involve people with behavioral health needs.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) must manage the program in consultation with the Department of Justice (DOJ). SAMHSA may cancel grants that increase incarceration or institutionalization. Grantees must use funds for purposes including de-escalation and anti-racism training.

The Department of Health and Human Services and the DOJ must evaluate this program.

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Current Status of Bill S 515

Bill S 515 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since March 1, 2021. Bill S 515 was introduced during Congress 117 and was introduced to the Senate on March 1, 2021. Bill S 515's most recent activity was Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. as of March 1, 2021

Bipartisan Support of Bill S 515

Total Number of Sponsors

Democrat Sponsors

Republican Sponsors

Unaffiliated Sponsors

Total Number of Cosponsors

Democrat Cosponsors

Republican Cosponsors

Unaffiliated Cosponsors

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill S 515

Primary Policy Focus

Health

Potential Impact Areas

- Congressional oversight

- Correctional facilities and imprisonment

- Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

- Criminal justice information and records

- Disability and paralysis

- Drug trafficking and controlled substances

- Drug, alcohol, tobacco use

- Emergency communications systems

- Employment and training programs

- First responders and emergency personnel

- Government information and archives

- Government studies and investigations

- Health personnel

- Health programs administration and funding

- Law enforcement administration and funding

- Law enforcement officers

- Mental health

- Performance measurement

- Racial and ethnic relations

- State and local government operations

Alternate Title(s) of Bill S 515

Mental Health Justice Act of 2021

A bill to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to States and political subdivisions of States to hire, employ, train and dispatch mental health professionals to respond in lieu of law enforcement officers in emergencies involving one or more persons with a mental illness or an intellectual or developmental disability, and for other purposes.

Mental Health Justice Act of 2021