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Bill

AB 1387

Behavioral health multidisciplinary personnel team.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Sharon Quirk-Silva

California bill creating multidisciplinary behavioral health teams to respond to mental health crises as alternative to police deployment, vetoed by Governor.

Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
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Bill Summary · AB 1387

Legislative bill overview

AB 1387 establishes multidisciplinary behavioral health teams that would deploy mental health professionals, social workers, and other specialists to respond to mental health crises, substance abuse issues, and related emergencies instead of traditional police responses. The bill aims to create a framework for California cities and counties to implement these alternative response programs as part of their public safety infrastructure.

Why is this important

Mental health crises and low-risk calls consume significant police resources and often result in unnecessary arrests or escalated confrontations. Specialized response teams could provide more appropriate interventions, reduce incarceration rates, and improve outcomes for individuals experiencing behavioral health emergencies. This reflects a broader policy shift toward diverting certain calls away from law enforcement.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and implementation burden: Cities and counties would bear significant costs for staffing, training, and deploying multidisciplinary teams, raising questions about funding adequacy and whether smaller jurisdictions can realistically comply.
  • Public safety concerns: Critics worry that removing police from certain calls could delay response times for truly dangerous situations or leave responders vulnerable if situations escalate unexpectedly.
  • Scope and definitions: Disagreements likely exist over which call types qualify for non-police response, liability when incidents occur, and whether participation by jurisdictions should be mandatory or voluntary.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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