Plain English Summary
This bill appropriates $474,680 in state funding over two fiscal years to Mecklenburg County municipalities (Matthews, Pineville, and Mint Hill) to establish a pilot program that pairs mental health professionals with police officers to respond to mental health-related emergencies and crisis calls.
Arguments in Favor
Supporters argue that co-responder programs improve outcomes for people experiencing mental health crises by having trained mental health professionals present during emergency calls, which can reduce unnecessary arrests, hospitalizations, and use of force. They contend that pairing mental health experts with police allows officers to focus on public safety while mental health professionals address underlying issues, potentially saving money long-term through diversion from the criminal justice system.
Arguments Against
Opponents may argue that the pilot funding is limited and temporary (only two years), which may not provide sufficient time to evaluate program effectiveness or sustain services long-term. Some question whether co-responder models adequately separate police from mental health responses, and worry that police presence during mental health calls could still escalate situations or that funding mental health services through law enforcement partnerships diverts resources from standalone mental health crisis programs.
AI-generated analysis based on bill text. Always verify with official sources at ncleg.gov. This is not legal or political advice.
Sponsors
Primary Sponsor
Representative · District 105
Primary Sponsor
Representative · District 103
Cosponsors (16)
Representative · District 18
Representative · District 114
Representative · District 100
Representative · District 115
Representative · District 106
Representative · District 99
Representative · District 102
Representative · District 71
Representative · District 40
Representative · District 50
Representative · District 92
Representative · District 61
Representative · District 88
Representative · District 31
Representative · District 39
Representative · District 107