Texas House Bill HB3553

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Caption

Relating to a grant program for mobile crisis outreach teams.

Impact

The introduction of this grant program aims to enhance the resources available to municipalities and counties, allowing them to establish local agencies in collaboration with local law enforcement and mental health authorities. By enabling local governments to deploy mobile crisis teams, the bill seeks to foster a supportive framework where communities can respond more effectively to mental health emergencies. It also mandates collaborative training to ensure that emergency service dispatchers can differentiate between situations requiring law enforcement and those suitable for mental health intervention, thereby encouraging a strategic approach to crisis management.

Summary

House Bill 3553 establishes a grant program for mobile crisis outreach teams aimed at providing immediate support for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. This bill highlights an innovative approach to mental health crises by deploying specialized teams to handle situations that do not necessarily require police intervention. The legislation emphasizes the need for mental health professionals to provide timely and appropriate services to adults and children suffering from mental illness, substance use disorders, or intellectual and developmental disabilities. Such initiatives aim to reduce the incidence of incarceration for individuals in crisis, thus promoting more effective community health responses.

Contention

Despite the bill's positive intentions, there may be concerns regarding funding disparities between smaller and larger municipalities. The requirement for counties and municipalities with populations under 250,000 to match only 50% of the grant amount may create inequalities in accessing resources. Furthermore, discussions surrounding the adequacy of the proposed training for dispatchers and community collaboration could raise questions about the program's effectiveness and the ability to meet the diverse needs of individuals experiencing crises. Such discrepancies may highlight contention regarding resource allocation and the operational capabilities of mobile crisis outreach teams.