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UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 2079
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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION establishing the Mental Health Alternative 1
Community Response Model Task Force. 2
WHEREAS, more than 813,000 Kentuckians have a mental healt h condition, 3
according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness; and 4
WHEREAS, many times when an individual experiences a mental health crisis, first 5
responders are involved to assess or treat the individual; and 6
WHEREAS, individuals experiencing mental health crises need alternative methods 7
in addition to law enforcement services to prevent further physical and community harm; 8
and 9
WHEREAS, law enforcement officials that have invested in and implemented 10
alternative mental health strategy procedures and se ntencing practices have seen great 11
improvements with positive community perception of law enforcement that have helped 12
reduce violent crime, recidivism, and re-entry efforts; and 13
WHEREAS, law enforcement officials and individuals are safer when mental health 14
crises are dealt with by professionals, and many law enforcement agencies have already 15
implemented such strategies; and 16
WHEREAS, research shows that a multidisciplinary community response team 17
composed of professionals trained to address behavioral heal th and quality of life 18
concerns for an individual during a mental health crisis can help lead to safe and 19
successful outcomes; and 20
WHEREAS, coordinating a statewide standard for community response teams will 21
help ensure all Kentuckians receive appropriate and supportive services at a time of 22
mental health crisis; 23
NOW, THEREFORE, 24
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 25
Kentucky, the House of Representatives concurring therein: 26
Section 1. The Legislative Research Commission is hereby directed to establish 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS BR 2079
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the Mental Health Alternative Community Response Model Task Force. The task force 1
shall study and make recommendations to identify programs, initiatives, and 2
opportunities in the Commo nwealth for alternative response services for communities 3
related to mental health for Kentuckians. 4
Section 2. The Mental Health Alternative Community Response Model Task 5
Force shall seek input and participation from the Department of Kentucky State Police, 6
local law enforcement from around the state, the Kentucky Court of Justice, the Cabinet 7
for Health and Family Services, and state and national mental health advocacy groups as 8
the task force studies and forms recommend ations related to alternative response services 9
for communities related to mental health. 10
Section 3. The Mental Health Alternative Community Response Model Task 11
Force shall be composed of the following members, with fina l membership being subject 12
to the consideration and approval of the Legislative Research Commission: 13
(1) Three members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate, 14
one of whom shall be designated to serve as co-chair; 15
(2) One member of the Senate to be appointed by the Minority Floor Leader of 16
the Senate; 17
(3) Three members of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the 18
Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be designated to serve as co-19
chair; and 20
(4) One member of the House of Representatives to be appointed by the Minority 21
Floor Leader of the House of Representatives. 22
Section 4. The Mental Health Alternative Community Response Model Task 23
Force shall meet as necessary during the 2026 Interim of the General Assembly. The task 24
force shall submit any findings and recommendations to the Legislative Research 25
Commission for referral to the appropriate committee or committees by December 1, 26
2026. 27
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Section 5. Provisions of this Resolution to the contrary notwithstanding, the 1
Legislative Research Commission shall have the authority to alternatively assign the 2
issues identified herein to an interim joint committee or subcommittee thereof, and to 3
designate a study completion date. 4