A bill to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide funding for innovations in community policing, mental health care, and community safety, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · December 17, 2024
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
The SMART Community Policing Act authorizes federal funding for law enforcement agencies to establish or expand programs that deploy mental health professionals alongside police officers to respond to crisis situations. These programs include mobile crisis teams with mental health professionals and paramedics who can respond directly to 911 calls and community requests, co-responder programs that pair officers with behavioral health clinicians, and case management teams that follow up with frequent emergency service users to connect them with ongoing treatment and resources. The legislation aims to de-escalate encounters involving individuals experiencing mental health crises, homelessness, substance use disorders, or poverty while reducing repeat interactions with law enforcement. The bill amends the existing Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand the allowable uses of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) funds, though specific funding amounts and implementation timelines are not detailed in the legislative text provided.
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