Law Enforcement

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify the exact nature of annual training for full-time police officers, only that it is related to supporting a qualified mental health professional.

Law for Alternative Crisis Response Units

This bill requires Tennessee's Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission to establish training standards for alternative crisis response units and mandates that each law enforcement agency must have such a unit by January 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

• Defines 'alternative crisis response unit' in state laws as a program where a qualified mental health professional accompanies full-time police officers on mental-health related calls.
• Requires the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission to establish uniform training standards for these units for all law enforcement agencies.
• Mandates that each law enforcement agency must develop and implement an alternative crisis response unit by January 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

• Law enforcement agencies in Tennessee
• Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission

Terms To Know

alternative crisis response unit

A program where a qualified mental health professional accompanies full-time police officers on mental-health related calls.

qualified mental health professional

A person who is trained and certified in providing mental health services, as defined by state law.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the funding will be allocated or managed.
• It's unclear if all local governments will receive state support for implementing these units.

Official Summary Text

This bill requires the peace officer standards and training
commission
to (i) establish uniform training standards for alternative crisis response units for all l
aw enforcement agencies and (ii)
annually provide full-time police officers with training on how to best support a qualified mental health professional to a call for service with the alternative crisis response unit.

As used in this bill, an
"
a
lternative
crisis response unit" means a program where a qualified mental health professional, who is employed by a law enforcement agency, accompanies a full-time police officer on mental-health related calls for service, and the qualified mental health profession
a
l is considered the lead on the call
.

By January 1, 2026, each law enforcement agency must develop and implement an alternative crisis unit.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 904
By Lamar

HOUSE BILL 954
By Brooks

HB0954
001488
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 33
and Title 38, relative to alternative crisis response
units.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 38-8-101, is amended by adding the
following as new subdivisions:
( ) "Alternative crisis response unit" means a program where a qualified mental
health professional, who is employed by a law enforcement agency, accompanies a full-
time police officer on mental-health related calls for service, and the qualified mental
health professional is considered the lead on the call;
( ) "Qualified mental health professional" means the same as defined in § 33-1-
101;
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 38-8-104, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection:
(h) The commission shall establish uniform training standards for alternative
crisis response units for all law enforcement agencies.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 38-8-119, is amended by designating
the existing language as subsection (a) and adding the following as a new subsection (b):
(b) The commission shall annually provide full-time police officers with training
on how to best support a qualified mental health professional to a call for service with the
alternative crisis response unit.
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38, Chapter 8, Part 1, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:

- 2 - 001488

By January 1, 2026, each law enforcement agency shall develop and implement
an alternative crisis response unit.
SECTION 5. Section 2 takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.
All remaining sections take effect January 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.