2016 -- H 7259

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LC003803

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - POLICE OFFICERS -

COMMISSION ON STANDARDS AND TRAINING

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Lombardi, McKiernan, Williams, and

     Date Introduced: January 20, 2016

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-28.2 of the General Laws entitled "Police Officers –

Commission on Standards and Training" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following

section:

     42-28.2-8.3. Educational requirements – National certified mental health first aid

training. – (a) The commission on standards and training shall prepare and publish mandatory

training standards to provide instructions for police officers in identifying and handling of

complaints involving mental health/substance abuse emergencies, and victims, witnesses or

suspects with mental illness or substance use disorders and shall develop guidelines for law

enforcement responses to incidents involving such persons. The course of instruction shall

comply with the certified National Council of Behavioral Health Mental Health First Aid

Program (MHFA) for law enforcement. Instruction and the guidelines shall include:

     (1) Identifying and recognizing mental illness or substance use disorders for the benefit

of victims and witnesses, the availability of civil remedies and community resources for persons

experiencing mental health emergencies, and the protection of persons with mental illness or

substance use disorders and for law enforcement officers engaging such persons;

     (2) Providing information to law enforcement officers to recognize the signs and

symptoms of common mental illnesses and substance use disorders, de-escalating crisis situations

safely and initiating timely referral to mental health and substance abuse resources available in

the community.

     (b) The commission shall include training in all curricula for recruits and in-service

trainees, in all police academies operating or certified by the commission. All law enforcement

trainees shall be certified by the National Council of Behavioral Health in Mental Health First

Aid.

     (c) All law enforcement trainees shall participate in the course of basic training for law

enforcement officers, established in this section, as part of their required certification process.

     (d) Training presenters shall include behavioral health practitioners with expertise in the

delivery of direct services to individuals experiencing mental health or substance abuse

emergencies and victims, witnesses and suspects with mental illness and consumer-survivors i.e.

individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders.  Training presentations may utilize the

staff of community-based mental health treatment facilities.

     (e) The course of instruction, the learning and performance objectives, the standards for

training, and the guidelines shall be developed by the municipal police training committee in

consultation with groups and individuals having an interest and expertise in the field of mental

health and community-based treatment.

     (f) The municipal police training committee periodically shall include within its in-

service training curriculum a course of instruction on handling complaints from or against

persons with mental illness or substance use disorders, consistent with the provisions of

subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section.

     (g) As used in this section, the following words and terms shall have the following

meanings:

     (1) "Law enforcement officer" shall mean any officer of a municipal police department or

a department of the state.

     (2) "Consumer-survivor" shall mean any individual suffering from mental health

disability or substance abuse disorder.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC003803

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - POLICE OFFICERS -

COMMISSION ON STANDARDS AND TRAINING

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     This act would require the commission on standards and training to provide training and

instructions for police officers and trainees in order to more accurately identify complaints

involving mental health/substance abuse emergencies and to develop law enforcement responses

to such emergencies.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC003803

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