Mental Health Emergency Responder Act

Bill Number

H.R. 5706

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Health

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-10-08: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Last Updated

2025-12-11T15:40:56Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Mental Health Emergency Responder Act (H.R. 5706) aims to improve responses to behavioral health crises by funding programs that prioritize mental health professionals and emergency medical services over law enforcement as the primary responders. It seeks to reduce reliance on police in such situations, promote alternatives like clinician-led teams, and enhance community-based care.

Key Provisions

• Grant Program Establishment: The Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, will create a competitive grant program to help eligible entities develop or expand behavioral health crisis response programs.
• Eligible Entities:
• Local or Tribal governments.
• Regional emergency medical services (EMS) agencies or fire departments.
• Certified community behavioral health clinics (federally recognized facilities providing comprehensive mental health services).
• Nonprofit organizations partnering with local governments or health authorities.
• Allowed Uses of Funds:
• Recruiting, training, and equipping behavioral health professionals (e.g., licensed clinicians or social workers) and paramedics for crisis responses.
• Integrating co-response teams (teams with at least one mental health expert and one EMS provider, firefighter, or peace officer) into 911 or 988 (the national suicide and crisis lifeline) dispatch systems.
• Conducting community education and outreach about non-police alternatives for crises.
• Developing protocols for EMS agencies to take custody of individuals from police for transport to mental health facilities, only if allowed by state law.
• Setting up EMS agencies or clinician-led mobile crisis teams as the main responders to behavioral health emergencies, in line with state and local laws.
• Reporting and Priorities: Grant recipients must submit annual reports on response outcomes (e.g., how crises were handled), diversion rates (e.g., avoiding arrests or hospitalizations), and community feedback. Grants prioritize areas without existing non-law enforcement programs or those with limited capacity.
• Funding: Authorizes necessary appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
• Definitions and Limitations: Defines "co-response team" as noted above. The law does not require changes to state emergency detention or custody laws and does not allow actions beyond what state laws permit.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new federal grant program, which did not previously exist in this form. It builds on existing frameworks like the 988 lifeline and certified behavioral health clinics under the Social Security Act but shifts emphasis toward non-law enforcement responses, encouraging integration with dispatch systems without overriding state authority on involuntary holds or transports (e.g., no mandates for states to alter civil commitment laws).

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: HHS will administer the program, increasing its role in mental health funding distribution. Local governments, Tribal nations, EMS agencies, and fire departments may see expanded resources for training and operations, potentially reducing coordination burdens with law enforcement.
• Citizens: Individuals experiencing behavioral health crises (e.g., mental health episodes or substance use emergencies) could benefit from faster, less traumatic responses focused on treatment rather than arrest, leading to higher diversion from jails and better access to care. Communities may gain awareness through education efforts, fostering trust in alternative services.
• International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. programs.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Primary Beneficiaries: People with behavioral health needs, their families, and underserved communities (especially in areas lacking programs).
• Implementers: Local/Tribal governments, EMS/fire departments, behavioral health clinics, and partnering nonprofits.
• Overseers: HHS and its Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use.
• Indirectly Affected: Law enforcement agencies (reduced primary role in crises) and 911/988 operators (integrated co-response protocols).

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces federalism by explicitly deferring to state laws on emergency detention and transport, avoiding conflicts with state sovereignty. It aligns with broader mental health reforms (e.g., under the SUPPORT Act) but introduces no new federal mandates on states.
• Constitutional: Supports due process by promoting de-escalation and treatment over punitive responses, potentially reducing risks of excessive force claims under the Fourth or Fourteenth Amendments, though it does not alter police powers directly.
• Political: Advances discussions on police reform and mental health investment, prioritizing equity in crisis response for marginalized groups (e.g., via Tribal eligibility). It could influence bipartisan support for public health funding but may face debate over shifting resources from traditional law enforcement budgets.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]

Cosponsors (10)

Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-10-08: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-10-08: Introduced in House
• 2025-10-08: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Mental Health Emergency Responder Act — issued 2025-10-08 — PDF (4 pages)