HR-10245-119
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Sponsored by Becca Balint (D-VT)
What it does
This bill would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to convene an advisory panel to recommend training requirements and protocols for 911 dispatchers responding to behavioral health crises. The panel would also develop recommendations for integrating the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline with 911 systems, establish data collection standards for tracking outcomes, and report its findings and updates to Congress at least every five years.
Who benefits
Individuals experiencing mental health, substance use, or psychiatric crises who call 911, who supporters say may receive more appropriate responses; rural and underserved communities and Tribal organizations represented on the panel; veterans and individuals with serious mental illness or PTSD; 911 and 988 dispatch personnel who would receive clearer training standards; mental health advocacy organizations and crisis-care providers who may see increased referrals.
Who is hurt
State and local 911 call centers and dispatch agencies that may bear implementation and training costs if they adopt panel recommendations; local law enforcement agencies whose role in behavioral health calls could be reduced under recommended protocols; federal taxpayers who would fund the panel and HHS coordination work; jurisdictions with limited budgets that may struggle to meet new training or staffing recommendations.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that 911 dispatchers currently lack standardized training to identify and appropriately route behavioral health crisis calls, often resulting in unnecessary law enforcement responses to situations better handled by crisis-care professionals. They contend that coordinating 911 and 988 systems, drawing on input from psychiatrists, paramedics, dispatchers, and underserved communities, could improve outcomes for callers experiencing mental health or substance use crises while reducing strain on law enforcement.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that creating another federal advisory panel adds bureaucratic layers without guaranteeing improved outcomes, since the panel's recommendations are non-binding and states retain authority over how local 911 systems operate. They contend that federal data collection and reporting requirements could impose unfunded compliance burdens on local call centers without dedicated federal funding to implement recommended training or staffing changes.