Mobile crisis teams or units: procedures.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on the consequences if a county chooses not to implement these procedures or training programs.

Mobile Crisis Teams: Rules and Training

This bill allows county behavioral health directors to create rules for mobile crisis teams that handle emergencies involving individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental health conditions, including training with police.

What This Bill Does

• Allows the director of a county's behavioral health department to develop procedures for mobile crisis teams when handling emergency situations involving individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental health conditions.
• Requires these procedures to address de-escalation techniques and other necessary items.
• Authorizes the director to create training programs in conjunction with local law enforcement.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who need help from mobile crisis teams during emergencies involving intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental health conditions.
• County behavioral health directors responsible for creating procedures and training for these teams.
• Local law enforcement officers involved in the training programs.

Terms To Know

Mobile Crisis Team

A group of trained professionals who respond to emergencies involving individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental health conditions.

De-escalation Techniques

Methods used to calm down tense situations and prevent conflicts from escalating.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if a county chooses not to create these procedures or training programs.
• It is unclear how much funding will be provided for the development of new procedures and training.

Official Summary Text

AB 308, as amended, Ramos.
Mobile crisis teams or units: procedures.
Existing law sets forth various provisions relating to mobile crisis teams, including with regard to behavioral health crisis services under the Miles Hall Lifeline and Suicide Prevention Act, involuntary commitment under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, and community-based mobile crisis intervention services through a Medi-Cal behavioral health delivery system under the Medi-Cal program. Existing law sets forth related provisions for mobile crisis units.
Existing law requires a regional center, which serves individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, to implement an emergency response system for, among other groups, consumers who receive mobile crisis services. Existing law requires a regional center and a county mental health agency to develop a general plan for crisis intervention for persons served by both systems.
Existing law establishes an advisory council for purposes of developing recommendations for improving outcomes of interactions between law enforcement and people with intellectual or developmental disabilities or with mental health conditions.
This bill, in the case of a county that operates, or that contracts for the operation of, a mobile crisis team or unit, would authorize the county behavioral health director to develop procedures for the mobile crisis team or unit that include the handling of an emergency situation, or a crisis incident, involving an individual with an intellectual or developmental disability or an individual with a behavioral health condition.
The bill would require the procedures, if developed, to address certain items, including deescalation techniques. The bill would authorize the director to develop training, in conjunction with law enforcement, for those procedures.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF