HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2704 FILED ON: 2/18/2021
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2445
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Kip A. Diggs
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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 resolve:
Resolve to establish a special commission on employing mental health professionals as law enforcement personnel.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Kip A. Diggs | 2nd Barnstable | 2/18/2021 |
Paul F. Tucker | 7th Essex | 3/18/2021 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2704 FILED ON: 2/18/2021
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2445
By Mr. Diggs of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by resolve, House, No. 2445) of Kip A. Diggs and Paul F. Tucker for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to employing mental health professionals as law enforcement personnel. Public Safety and Homeland Security. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
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Resolve to establish a special commission on employing mental health professionals as law enforcement personnel.
Resolved, that notwithstanding any General Law, special law, or local ordinance to the contrary, a special commission is hereby established for the purpose of conducting an investigation and study to research and investigate the feasibility of employing mental health professionals as police department personnel for the purpose of assisting law enforcement in order to screen, evaluate and refer individuals who are in crisis. The commission shall be made up of one appointee of the Department of Public Safety and Security, one appointee of the Department of Mental Health, one appointee of the Office of the Attorney General, one appointee of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, one appointee of the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement, one member of the House of Representatives, as appointed by the House Speaker, one member of the Massachusetts State Senate, as appointed by the Senate President, one member of the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, and one member of the Massachusetts Police Association.
Within 180 days after passage of this bill, the special commission shall report to the House of Representatives and Senate the results of this investigation and study to employ mental health professionals as full-time, non law enforcement personnel, and any recommendations by filing the same to the Clerk of the House Representatives no later than December 1, 2022.