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S 515 United States Senate · 117th Congress

Mental Health Justice Act of 2021

Summary
Mental Health Justice Act of 2021 This bill creates a grant program for states 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. Grantees must use funds for purposes including de-escalation and anti-racism training. The Department of Health and Human Services and the DOJ must evaluate this program.
Issues: ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRedirects mental health crisis responses from police to mental health professionals, explicitly preventing increased incarceration - aligns with criminal justice reform indicators95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates grants for mental health professionals instead of law enforcement in behavioral health emergencies, expanding access to mental health services.95% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2021
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Mar 1, 2021 Last action Mar 1, 2021
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Mar 1, 2021
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
upper
Mar 1, 2021
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Warren
DDemocratic
MA
n/a
Co
Photo of Amy Klobuchar
Amy Klobuchar
DDemocratic
MN
n/a
Co
Photo of Cory A. Booker
Cory A. Booker
DDemocratic
NJ
n/a