The bill proposes to repeal sections 590.040 and 590.050 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri and replace them with three new sections focused on law enforcement's response to mental health-related emergencies. Key provisions include establishing a minimum of 600 hours of basic training for peace officers, with specific training requirements related to domestic violence, racial profiling, and behavioral health crisis response. Notably, peace officers first licensed after August 28, 2028, will be required to complete at least six hours of training on behavioral health crisis response. Additionally, peace officers involved in traffic stops and emergency responses will need to undergo three hours of training on the prohibition against racial profiling and behavioral health crisis response, respectively. The bill also introduces a new section, 590.275, which mandates that co-response teams, consisting of a peace officer and a behavioral health professional, respond to all emergency calls classified as mental health-related. It outlines the training requirements for peace officers in recognizing behavioral health conditions and emphasizes the importance of data collection for mental health-related dispatches. Furthermore, it establishes the "Behavioral Health Co-Responder Grant Fund" to support hiring, training, and program evaluation for co-response initiatives. The bill aims to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement in handling mental health crises while ensuring accountability and proper training.

Statutes affected:
Introduced (6506H.01): 590.040, 590.050, 590.275