HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1884 FILED ON: 2/12/2021
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2213
|
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Steven G. Xiarhos
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to civilian mental health advocates.
_______________
PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Steven G. Xiarhos | 5th Barnstable | 2/12/2021 |
Mathew J. Muratore | 1st Plymouth | 2/22/2021 |
Timothy R. Whelan | 1st Barnstable | 2/23/2021 |
Michael J. Soter | 8th Worcester | 2/25/2021 |
Susan L. Moran | Plymouth and Barnstable | 2/26/2021 |
Hannah Kane | 11th Worcester | 3/2/2021 |
Elizabeth A. Malia | 11th Suffolk | 3/15/2021 |
Patrick M. O'Connor | Plymouth and Norfolk | 5/5/2021 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1884 FILED ON: 2/12/2021
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2213
By Mr. Xiarhos of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2213) of Steven G. Xiarhos and others that cities and towns be authorized to establish police department civilian mental health advocate divisions. Municipalities and Regional Government. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
_______________
An Act relative to civilian mental health advocates.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Chapter 41 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, after section 97F, the following section:-
Section 97G. (a) A city or town that accepts this section in the manner provided in section 4 of chapter 4 may establish within its police department, a division of civilian mental health advocates.
(b) The civilian mental health advocates may accompany law enforcement officers of the police department to respond to non-violent or behavioral health-related matters. The department shall establish procedures to determine if a civilian mental health advocate is required to accompany police response.
(c) The city or town shall determine the minimum qualifications for a civilian mental health advocate. The city or town may contract with private parties to provide civilian mental health advocate services.
(d) The police department may consult with the department of public health and the division of police officer standards and training in developing regulations relative to this section.