Creating the community law enforcement enhancement fund and providing an appropriation

The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill creates the community law enforcement enhancement fund (fund) established in the state treasury under the control of the department of public safety and provides an appropriation. The bill provides that moneys appropriated to the fund shall be used for grants to municipal police departments and county sheriff departments for the following purposes: for the purchase of equipment, training, the establishment of information storage and retrieval procedures and facilities, and other expenses properly related to initiating a program for peace officers to wear and operate body cameras while on duty in the community; and for recruiting, training, and paying a portion of the first-year salary and benefits of a community mental health advocate position within a municipal police department or a county sheriff department. The bill specifies the duties of a community mental health advocate which include but are not limited to the following: providing access to mental health services that may be necessary after a person’s contact with law enforcement; acting as a liaison between a local law enforcement agency and mental health services providers and agencies; reviewing departmental calls for mental health services to identify the mental health needs of consumers; assisting mental health consumers with identifying and obtaining services; assisting mental health services providers in understanding consumer needs in the community; coordinating and assisting with law enforcement actions requiring possible mental health services; and assisting in developing, coordinating, and implementing mental health training. The bill provides that a grant may be awarded for expenses properly related to initiating and providing services related to the duties specified in the bill incurred through collaboration between a municipal police department or county sheriff department and one or more local mental health organizations or social service organizations. The bill provides that grant awards may be made for up to $50,000 per grant awarded, and a municipal police department or county sheriff department may make separate applications for each of the two purposes of the fund. The department of public safety shall allocate at least percent of available funds to grants for each of the two purposes of the fund, and shall distribute funds as equitably as possible to achieve a balanced distribution of funds geographically within the state and among large and small communities. Any balance in the fund on June of any fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund of the state. The department is directed to adopt rules pursuant to Code chapter 17A necessary for the administration of the bill. The bill is repealed on January 1, 2030. The bill makes an appropriation of $5 million from the general fund of the state to the department of public safety for deposit into the fund established in the bill for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024.