_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT revising laws related to the crisis intervention team training program; requiring the program to have a statewide coordinator; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; AMENDING SECTION 44-7-110, MCA; and PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATEs."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Section 44-7-110, MCA, is amended to read:

"44-7-110. Crisis intervention team training program -- rulemaking. (1) Within the limits of available funds, the board of crime control shall administer and support a crisis intervention team training program to increase the number of law enforcement officers, behavioral health providers, and community stakeholders who are trained to respond safely and effectively to incidents that involve an individual who is experiencing a behavioral health crisis.

(2)        Local governments, including tribal governments, and nonprofit Nonprofit law enforcement organizations, nonprofit organizations, and local governments, including tribal governments, are eligible to receive grant funding. Grant funds must be used to help law enforcement, advocacy, mental health, and community providers to:

(a)        provide specialized training to law enforcement officers to help officers recognize and properly respond to individuals with a mental illness or behavioral health problem, including strategies for verbal de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques; and

(b)        best utilize or establish collaborative programs that enhance the ability of law enforcement agencies to coordinate with community-based service providers to address the behavioral health problems of individuals typically encountered by law enforcement officers in the line of duty.; and

(3)(c)    The board may also contract directly with a nonprofit organization to provide or coordinate statewide and community-based training programs to develop best practices and standards.

(4)        In administering the crisis intervention team training program, the board shall:

(a)        identify and disseminate data and technical assistance to local law enforcement and to community stakeholders on established national and international best practices or develop statewide best practices for community-based law enforcement responses to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis;

(b)        identify priorities for funding services, activities, and criteria for the receipt of program funds, including that the training offered should incorporate the best practices identified or developed by the board in conjunction with stakeholders;

(c)        monitor the expenditure of funds by organizations receiving funds under this section;

(d)        evaluate the effectiveness of services and activities under this section;

(e)        adopt rules as needed to implement this section; and

(f)         to the extent practicable, coordinate with existing statewide organizations that identify best practices, develop training models, and collect data to avoid duplication of efforts.

(5)        The board shall report, in accordance with 5-11-210, on the status of the program to the law and justice interim committee by September 15 of each even-numbered year.

(6)        (a) Funds available under subsection (1) consist of state appropriations and federal funds received by the board for the purposes of administering and supporting the crisis intervention team training program or any funds received pursuant to subsection (6)(b). The board shall actively seek federal grant money that may be used for the purposes of this section.

(b)        The board may accept gifts, grants, and donations from other public or private sources, which must be used within the scope of this section.

(c)        The board may utilize up to 10% of funds appropriated for costs incurred to administer the program."

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Appropriation. There is appropriated $300,000 from the marijuana state special revenue account provided for in 16-12-111 to the board of crime control for each year of the 2025 biennium for the purposes described in 44-7-110. It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation be included as part of the base budget for the board of crime control for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Effective dates. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), [this act] is effective on passage and approval.

(2)        [Section 2] is effective July 1, 2023.