Budget Amendment ID: FY2013-S4-445-R1

Redraft EPS 445

Jail Diversion Community Safety Initiative

Mr. Keenan and Ms. Donoghue moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 8200-0200, by inserting after item 8000-1700 the following item:-

“8000-XXXX For a competitive grant program to be known as the Jail Diversion Community Safety Initiative, to be administered by the executive office of public safety and security, in collaboration with the department of mental health; provided, that funds shall be expended for grants to reduce arrests of people in mental health crisis by improving police response and fostering access to emergency service programs; provided further, that within the initiative, priority shall be given to applications that emphasize training of municipal police departments in developing skilled personnel with intensive training in de-escalation techniques; provided further, that the executive office of public safety shall solicit proposals from: (i) individual communities or police departments; (ii) clusters of municipalities or police departments; (iii) communities or police departments in partnership with nonprofit organizations; and (iv) other related agencies seeking to collaborate with local public safety officials with the intent of delivering such training or services; provided further, that the grants shall only be awarded to sponsors who can demonstrate their intent to: (a) support regional, multidisciplinary approaches to promote access to mental health treatment rather than arrest or jail; and (b) provide resources to communities to develop programs for prevention and intervention and technical assistance and information to support local planning and training efforts; provided further, that the department shall select grantees for the program authorized by this item not later than March 1, 2013; provided further, that the secretary of public safety and security, in collaboration with the department of mental health shall distribute grant funds through a competitive grant program that requires all applicants to incorporate proven techniques for approaching emotional disturbance calls and working with emergency service programs that combine the best practices from community policing and tested mental health training programs such as crisis intervention teams, mental health first aid and the Massachusetts Mental Health Diversion & Integration Program; provided further, that such funds shall be considered 1-time grants awarded to public agencies and shall not annualize into fiscal year 2014 or subsequent fiscal years; provided further, that administrative costs for successful grant applications shall not exceed 3 per cent of the value of the grant; provided further, that no grants shall be awarded to the department of state police; provided further, that no grant funds shall be expended on food or beverages; provided further, that the executive office of public safety and security, in collaboration with the department of mental health, shall publish guidelines and an application process for the competitive portion of the grant program not later than October 15, 2012; and provided further, that awards shall be made to applicants not later than February 15, 2013……$250,000”