Introduced Version
HOUSE BILL No. 1199
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 34-30-2.1-594.5; IC 36-8.
Synopsis: Mental health support for law enforcement officers.
Requires a political subdivision to contract with mental health
providers for the purpose of supplementing existing crisis intervention
teams with mental health professionals. Specifies certain eligibility
requirements for mental health professionals' rapid response assistance.
Requires a mental health professional who is appointed to accompany
responding law enforcement or police officers to a call or be separately
dispatched to an emergency involving a mental health or substance use
disorder crisis. Provides that a law enforcement officer or police officer
(officer) may not be held liable for damages, including punitive
damages, for any act or omission related to a mental health
professional's contribution to a crisis intervention team or a crisis
intervention team response. Specifies that no other person or entity may
be held liable for certain damages by reason of an agency relationship
with an officer. Defines certain terms.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Bartlett
January 8, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public
Safety.
2025 IN 1199—LS 6801/DI 116 Introduced
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
HOUSE BILL No. 1199
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local
government.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 34-30-2.1-594.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
2 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
3 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 594.5. IC 36-8-23.5-7 (Concerning
4 crisis intervention teams and mental health professionals).
5 SECTION 2. IC 36-8-1-5.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
6 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
7 1, 2025]: Sec. 5.5. "Crisis intervention team" has the meaning set
8 forth in IC 36-8-23.5-1.
9 SECTION 3. IC 36-8-1-9.3 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
10 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
11 1, 2025]: Sec. 9.3. "Mental health professional" has the meaning set
12 forth in IC 36-8-23.5-2.
13 SECTION 4. IC 36-8-23.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
14 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
15 JULY 1, 2025]:
16 Chapter 23.5. Crisis Intervention and Mental Health
17 Professionals
2025 IN 1199—LS 6801/DI 116 2
1 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "crisis intervention team" has
2 the meaning set forth in IC 5-2-1-2(7).
3 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "mental health professional"
4 means a:
5 (1) mental health counselor licensed under IC 25-23.6-8.5;
6 (2) psychologist; or
7 (3) psychiatrist.
8 Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "political subdivision" means a
9 county, township, city, or town.
10 Sec. 4. (a) A law enforcement agency of a political subdivision
11 shall contract with a mental health professional for the purpose of
12 either:
13 (1) supplementing an existing crisis intervention team with an
14 on-call mental health professional; or
15 (2) providing rapid response assistance to an emergency
16 described in section 5 of this chapter.
17 (b) A mental health professional described in this section must:
18 (1) have training in the treatment of substance use disorders
19 and mental health disorders; and
20 (2) possess expertise in one (1) or more of the following areas
21 to be eligible for an appointment to an existing crisis
22 intervention team:
23 (A) Trauma informed care.
24 (B) De-escalation techniques.
25 (C) Crisis communication.
26 Sec. 5. If an emergency dispatch involves a mental health or
27 substance use disorder crisis, an on-call mental health professional
28 described in section 4 of this chapter shall, to the extent
29 practicable, accompany responding law enforcement officers or
30 police officers to the scene or be separately dispatched to the scene
31 for the purpose of providing:
32 (1) onsite guidance to responding officers;
33 (2) onsite treatment to persons in crisis;
34 (3) coordination and referrals for follow-up care and
35 wraparound services; and
36 (4) any other treatment, assistance, or guidance deemed
37 necessary by the mental health professional.
38 Sec. 6. Nothing in this chapter may be construed to authorize
39 the exercise of any police power by a mental health professional
40 described in section 4 of this chapter.
41 Sec. 7. A law enforcement officer or police officer may not be
42 held liable for damages, including punitive damages, for any act or
2025 IN 1199—LS 6801/DI 116 3
1 omission related to a mental health professional's contribution to
2 a crisis intervention team or a crisis intervention team response. If
3 a law enforcement officer or police officer is not liable for an act or
4 omission under this section, no other person or entity incurs
5 liability by reason of an agency relationship with the applicable law
6 enforcement officer or police officer.
2025 IN 1199—LS 6801/DI 116