2021 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 36
BY SENATOR JACKSON
A RESOLUTION
To create a task force to study the implementation of a partnership between law enforcement
agencies and safety net hospitals to reduce or eliminate incidents of law enforcement
officers going to nonviolent calls or behavioral or social crises in which no crime has
taken place.
WHEREAS, today, law enforcement officers spend a considerable amount of their
time responding to low-priority 911 calls related to quality-of-life issues or social service
needs; and
WHEREAS, many of these calls for service could be safely resolved by trained
civilians experienced in finding long-term solutions to the root causes of community
concerns; and
WHEREAS, law enforcement officers who respond to mental health crises may not
be trained to try and communicate with the person in crisis or nearby community and family
members; and
WHEREAS, the Center for American Progress (CAP) and the Law Enforcement
Action Partnership (LEAP) propose that cities establish a new branch of civilian first
responders known as "community responders" who would be dispatched in response to calls
for service that often do not need a police response; and
WHEREAS, dispatching civilians in lieu of law enforcement officers can reduce
unnecessary police responses and help prevent unjust arrests and uses of force, which
disproportionately affect people with behavioral health disorders and disabilities; and
WHEREAS, it would also free up law enforcement resources, allowing officers to
spend more time on key tasks such as addressing serious crime and building proactive
relationships with communities; and
WHEREAS, in an analysis of 911 data from five American cities, CAP and LEAP
found that 23 percent to 45 percent of calls for service were for less urgent or noncriminal
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issues such as noise complaints, disorderly conduct, wellness checks, or behavioral health
concerns; and
WHEREAS, according to a recent CAP and LEAP report, across eight American
cities, community responders could have responded to between 21 percent and 38 percent
of 911 calls, and an additional 13 percent to 33 percent of calls could be resolved
administratively without dispatching an officer; and
WHEREAS, a number of cities have already implemented civilian first response
programs that incorporate elements of the community responder model; and
WHEREAS, community responders would be dispatched in response to two specific
categories of calls:
(1) Behavioral health and social service calls. Community responders trained as
paramedics, clinicians, or crisis intervention specialists could respond to lower-risk 911 calls
related to mental health, addiction, and homelessness; and also include peer navigators
whose personal experiences with behavioral health and social service needs can help build
bridges with individuals involved in these 911 calls.
(2) Quality of life and conflict calls. Community responders could be dispatched to
911 calls for nuisance complaints and nonviolent conflicts, which may include reports of
suspicious people, youth behavioral issues, trespassing, and even simple assaults that do not
involve weapons. Community responders who respond to these calls should be professionals
with deep connections to the community and extensive training in conflict mediation; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this partnership is to reduce incidents of injuries related
to mental health emergencies while reducing the incarceration of the mentally ill; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to study the feasibility and implementation of this
partnership in Louisiana.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
hereby creates a task force to study the implementation of a partnership between law
enforcement agencies and safety net hospitals to reduce or eliminate incidents of law
enforcement officers going to nonviolent calls or behavioral or social crises in which no
crime is reported.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a task force shall be composed of the following
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members:
(1) A representative of the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Behavioral
Health, designated by the secretary of the department.
(2) A representative of the Governor's Office of Disability Affairs, as designated by
the governor.
(3) A representative of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - Louisiana
Chapter and a patient advocate for mental health, designated by the president of the chapter.
(4) A representative of the Louisiana Psychological Association, as designated by the
president of the association.
(5) A representative of the Capital Area Human Services and a patient advocate for
mental health, designated by the chair of the board of directors.
(6) A representative of the Louisiana Chiefs of Police Association, designated by the
president of the association.
(7) A representative of the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association, designated by the
president of the association.
(8) A representative of Louisiana State University Shreveport, designated by the
chancellor of the university.
(9) A representative of Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport - Monroe Medical Center,
designated by the chief executive officer of the medical center.
(10) A representative of Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans, designated by the
chief executive officer of the medical center.
(11) A representative of Louisiana's Mental Health Advocacy Service and a patient
advocate for mental health, designated by the chief of the board of trustees of the agency.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit a written report of
findings and recommendations to the Senate no later than February 15, 2022.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, the Governor's Office of Disability Affairs,
the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - Louisiana Chapter, Louisiana
Psychological Association, the Capital Area Human Services District, the Louisiana Chiefs
of Police Association, the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association, the chancellor of Louisiana State
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University Shreveport, the chief executive officer of Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport -
Monroe Medical Center, the chief executive officer of Ochsner Medical Center - New
Orleans, and chair of the board of trustees of Louisiana's Mental Health Advocacy Service.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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