Law Enforcement

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

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Lamar, Brooks
Last action: 2026-03-23
Official status: Failed in Senate Judiciary Committee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on funding beyond the initial proposal.

Creating Alternative Crisis Response Units for Law Enforcement

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 develop and implement such a unit by January 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

Defines an 'alternative crisis response unit' as a program where a qualified mental health professional works alongside police officers on mental-health related calls.
Requires the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission to establish uniform training standards for these units.
Requires full-time police officers to receive annual training on how to support mental health professionals during calls.
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
Full-time police officers
Qualified mental health professionals

Terms To Know

Alternative crisis response unit: A program where a qualified mental health professional, employed by a law enforcement agency, accompanies a full-time police officer on mental-health related calls.
Qualified mental health professional: A person trained and certified in providing mental health services, employed by a law enforcement agency.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass the Senate Judiciary Committee.
It is unclear how much funding will be provided for implementing these units beyond what was initially proposed.

Bill History

2026-03-25 Tennessee General Assembly
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Public Service Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee
2026-03-23 Tennessee General Assembly
Failed in Senate Judiciary Committee
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on Senate Judiciary Committee calendar for 3/23/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Public Service Subcommittee for 3/25/2026
2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly
Action Def. in s/c Public Service Subcommittee to 3/25/2026
2026-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Public Service Subcommittee for 3/18/2026
2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly
Taken off notice for cal in s/c Public Service Subcommittee of State & Local Government Committee
2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Placed on s/c cal Public Service Subcommittee for 3/19/2025
2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly
Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Judiciary Committee
2025-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly
Assigned to s/c Public Service Subcommittee
2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly
Introduced, Passed on First Consideration
2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly
P2C, ref. to State & Local Government Committee
2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly
Intro., P1C.
2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction
2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly
Filed for introduction

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

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL 954
By Brooks

SENATE BILL 904
By Lamar

SB0904
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.