Sign Up
HR 8542 United States House · 117th Congress

Mental Health Justice Act of 2022

Summary
Mental Health Justice Act of 2022 This bill creates a grant program for states, tribal entities, and local governments to train and dispatch mental health professionals to respond, instead of law enforcement officers, to emergencies that involve people with behavioral health needs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) must manage the program in consultation with the Department of Justice (DOJ). SAMHSA may cancel grants that increase incarceration or institutionalization. The Department of Health and Human Services and DOJ must evaluate this program.
Issues: ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDiverts mental health emergencies from police to professionals, reducing incarceration; explicitly cancels grants increasing incarceration95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates federal grant program to fund mental health professional dispatch instead of law enforcement, expanding access to mental health services through direct funding.95% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jul 2022
Committee Review
Sep 2022
House Passage
Sep 2022
Senate Passage
President
Introduced Jul 27, 2022 Last action Sep 27, 2022
Floor votes · House Sep 22, 2022

How they voted

223–206
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 432
Sep 22, 2022
D Democratic220
220 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican212
3 Yea 206 Nay 3
97% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
4
Committee
3
Sep 27, 2022
Committee
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
upper
Sep 22, 2022
Lower · Passed
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 223 - 206 (Roll no. 452). (text: CR H8081-8082)
lower
Sep 22, 2022
Lower · Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 223 - 206 (Roll no. 452).
lower
Sep 22, 2022
Lower · Passed
Rule H. Res. 1377 passed House.
lower
Sep 21, 2022
Lower · Passed
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1377 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4118, H.R. 5768, H.R. 6448 and H.R. 8542. Resolution provides for 30 minutes of general debate with one motion to recommit for each bill.
lower
Jul 27, 2022
Committee
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
lower
Jul 27, 2022
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Katie Porter
Katie Porter
DDemocratic
CA
47