SMART Community Policing Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4575
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-19: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-16T20:57:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 4575: Supporting Mental Assistance Responder Teams Community Policing Act (SMART Community Policing Act)
Purpose
The legislation aims to strengthen community policing programs by funding efforts to de-escalate law enforcement interactions with non-violent individuals facing crises related to mental health, poverty, homelessness, or substance use. It seeks to foster partnerships that link people to mental health services and community resources, ultimately improving outcomes for communities and law enforcement officers through appropriate treatment and support.
Key Provisions
- Mobile Crisis Team Programs: Authorizes funding to hire mental health professionals and paramedics who can respond to certain 911 calls at the request of officers or direct community requests. These teams stabilize encounters with individuals in mental or behavioral health crises and connect them to further evaluation and treatment. Funding also supports officer training, mobile response units, and additional personnel.
- Co-Responder Programs: Allows funding for pairing trained law enforcement officers with behavioral health clinicians or paramedics to de-escalate mental health crises, connect individuals to services, and handle responses more effectively. This may include hiring extra officers and case managers.
- Case Management and Outreach Teams: Permits funding for teams that follow up with individuals after crises to link them with mental health services and resources, assist with treatment plans and daily responsibilities like work or school, and develop strategies to reduce repeated emergency service use. These teams can operate independently or alongside the other programs.
- The bill amends Section 1701(b) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10381(b)) by adding these three new authorized uses of funds, numbered as paragraphs (26) through (28).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill expands the list of permitted uses for funds under the existing Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, which governs the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. It introduces specific new categories focused on mental health and behavioral crisis responses, building on the current 25 authorized uses by adding options for integrated law enforcement and mental health teams.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Local law enforcement agencies and mental health providers could access federal grants to implement or expand these programs, potentially shifting some crisis responses away from traditional policing.
- On Citizens: Individuals experiencing mental health crises may benefit from specialized responses that prioritize treatment over arrest, while communities could see reduced repeat emergency interactions.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts are outlined in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Law enforcement agencies and officers
- Mental health professionals, paramedics, and case managers
- Individuals with mental health or behavioral health needs
- Local governments and community organizations
- Emergency dispatch services
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill focuses on grant funding for program expansion and does not alter core legal authorities or constitutional rights. It emphasizes collaborative approaches to public safety, which could influence policy discussions on the role of law enforcement in non-criminal crises, though no specific constitutional challenges or political mandates are addressed in the text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-19: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Supporting Mental Assistance Responder Teams Community Policing Act — issued 2026-05-19 — PDF (5 pages)