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HB 3999

COUNTY CO-RESPONDER UNITS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Amy Grant and 1 co-sponsor

HB 3999 authorizes Illinois counties to deploy co-responder teams pairing law enforcement with mental health professionals for non-criminal calls like mental health crises and welfare checks.

Referred to Rules Committee
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 3999

Legislative bill overview

HB 3999 establishes a framework for Illinois counties to create co-responder units that pair law enforcement officers with mental health or social service professionals to respond to certain non-criminal calls. The bill appears designed to divert low-risk incidents away from traditional police-only responses by deploying trained civilian responders alongside or instead of armed officers for calls involving mental health crises, substance use, homelessness, or welfare checks.

Why is this important

Co-responder models have gained traction nationally as potential alternatives to police-only responses, with proponents citing reduced use-of-force incidents and better outcomes for people in mental health crisis. The outcome significantly affects public safety strategy, police budgets, and how vulnerable populations interact with emergency response systems across Illinois counties.

Potential points of contention

  • Liability and accountability: Unclear which entity bears responsibility if a co-responder unit encounters a situation that escalates, and how civilian responders are protected or held accountable
  • Implementation costs and equity: Counties have varying resources; smaller or rural counties may lack funding to establish these units, potentially creating unequal service levels statewide
  • Police union concerns: Law enforcement representatives may oppose perceived reductions in officer deployment or worry about safety when paired with non-armed professionals during unpredictable calls
  • Call-screening criteria: Determining which calls qualify for co-responder dispatch versus traditional police response remains subjective and potentially contentious

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

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