DE HR17

Establishes a 15-member Behavioral Health Crisis Care Task Force to study and develop recommendations for creating a behavioral health crisis care system in Delaware.

Task Force composition includes 2 House members (1 majority, 1 minority), 2 Senate members (1 majority, 1 minority), directors of Social Services and Substance Abuse and Mental Health, three police chiefs (New Castle County, Milford, Georgetown), Mobile Crisis directors, county Emergency Operations directors, Criminal Justice Council Executive Director, and additional members as appointed by the Chair.

Addresses concerns that police departments lack adequate crisis services and are forced to arrest individuals experiencing mental health or substance abuse crises, resulting in incarceration of persons who need behavioral health treatment rather than criminal justice intervention.

Task Force must hold first meeting within 60 days of passage and submit final report with findings and recommendations to the General Assembly, Governor, and Legislative Council by February 4, 2022.

Division of Health and Social Services and law enforcement agencies must provide necessary data to support the Task Force's work.