Wisconsin Legislative Council
AMENDMENT MEMO
One Ea st Ma in Stre e t, Suite 401 • Ma dison, W I 53703 • (608) 266-1304 • le g.council@le gis.wisconsin.gov • http://www.le gis.wisconsin.gov/lc
Memo published: February 8, 2024 Contact: Kelly McGraw, Staff Attorney
2023 Senate Bill 610 Senate Amendment 1
2023 SENATE BILL 610
Senate Bill 610 directs the Department of Health Services (DHS) to establish a pilot program to
implement virtual behavioral health crisis care services for use by county or municipal law enforcement
agencies in the field to connect law enforcement officers who encounter persons in crisis to behavioral
health care services.
Specifically, within 90 days of enactment, the bill requires DHS to contract with a private entity to
provide virtual behavioral health crisis care services, including related equipment and training that
provide law enforcement officers with remote access via two-way audio/video communication to
behavioral health care expertise and decision-making support.
The bill further requires DHS to identify counties and municipalities to participate in the pilot program
to use the contracted services. Under the bill, to be eligible to participate in the pilot program, a county
or municipality must pay 30 percent of the cost for the equipment and services contracted for that
county or municipality. No more than 50 percent of program resources may be allocated to counties or
municipalities with a population of more than 50,000, and no more than 10 percent of program
resources may be allocated to a single county or municipality.
Lastly, DHS must collect and report information to the Joint Committee on Finance on the program’s
costs and effectiveness by May 1, 2025.
SENATE AMENDMENT 1
Senate Amendment 1 modifies DHS’s role in the pilot program, providing 180 days after enactment for
DHS to instead obtain and review proposals using its competitive selection process to award contracts
to certified county crisis agencies for the purposes of providing virtual behavioral health crisis care
services to individuals experiencing a behavioral crisis.
Under the amendment, certified county crisis agencies that are awarded grants may contract with their
local law enforcement jurisdictions to provide telehealth equipment and develop virtual behavioral
health care. Grants awarded under the competitive selection process may include remote access via
two-way audio/video communication, and grant awardees may contract for services with a private
entity for the purposes of training, equipment, or decision-making support.
No grant may be awarded unless the certified county crisis agency certifies to DHS that grant funding
will pay no more than 75 percent of the cost of providing virtual behavioral health crisis care services. - 2 -
BILL HISTORY
On November 9, 2023, Senator James offered Senate Amendment 1. On December 13, 2023, the Senate
Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families recommended
adoption of Senate Amendment 1, and passage of the bill, as amended, on votes of Ayes, 5; Noes 0.
For a full history of the bill, visit the Legislature’s bill history page.
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