Bill
SB 3798
The bill expands and integrates mobile mental health crisis response with 9-1-1, emphasizing trauma‑informed, de‑escalated care that can divert from hospitalization or incarceratio
Title: MENTAL HEALTH 9-1-1 CALLS
Purpose and overall aim
- The bill expands and codifies Illinois’ approach to mental health crises within the 9-1-1 and emergency response framework.
- It seeks to integrate mobile mental/behavioral health services with existing 9-1-1 systems, enhance crisis intervention training, and establish clear coordination between public safety answering points (PSAPs) and mobile mental health providers.
- It also updates related training standards for law enforcement and elevates processes around involuntary commitment in certain crisis scenarios.
Key provisions and changes
1) Illinois State Police Training and Specialized Programs
- Amends the Illinois Police Training Act (Section 2605-51) to include extensive, specialized in-service and cadet training requirements.
- New and expanded areas for Division of the Academy and Training:
- Specialized trainings for crash reconstruction, death/homicide investigations, investigation of officer-involved sexual assaults, and officer-involved deaths.
- Mandatory victim-centered, trauma-informed components for homicide investigations.
- Expanded cadet training covering autism, mental health crisis intervention (40-hour CIT course), crisis de-escalation, trauma-informed responses, and proportional use of force.
- Comprehensive in-service training cadence:
- Annual: cell phone medical information access, autism awareness, cultural diversity, crisis intervention, firearms safety orders, etc.
- Every 3 years: advanced use-of-force, constitutional rights, civil rights, cultural competency, and mandated reporting training.
- Other specialties include crisis intervention team certification, mental health awareness, peer support training, and more.
- Emphasis on crisis intervention training to connect individuals in crisis to treatment and reduce escalation.
2) Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) and Mental Health Awareness (Section 10.17)
- The Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board will maintain a standard CIT curriculum (minimum 40 hours) and support a certified therapy dog program for crisis response.
- Reinforces that CIT efforts be collaborative with mental health providers, families, and consumer advocates, and that trained officers receive a credential upon completion.
- Introduces introductory mental health awareness coursework for broad accessibility, including potential for electronic delivery.
3) Emergency Telephone System Act and NG9-1-1
- Creates and defines key NG9-1-1 terms and concepts (NG9-1-1, NGCS, ESInet, ALI, LVF, ESRP, etc.) to support next-generation emergency communications.
- Adds Sections 7.2 and 7.3 requiring PSAPs to comply with Community Emergency Services and Support Act (CESA) protocols beginning July 1, 2027, and ongoing monitoring of compliance.
- Provides for ICC/STATE coordination to support data sharing, interoperability, and data-driven improvements.
4) Community Emergency Services and Support Act (CESA) Amendments
- Updates CESA to formalize mobile mental and behavioral health responses as part of emergency crisis services.
- Emphasizes diversion from hospitalization or incarceration when appropriate, on-site care when possible, and timely referrals to community services.
- Establishes requirements for training mobile mental health relief providers, including de-escalation, cultural competency, neurodiversity awareness, and involuntary commitment safeguards.
5) Coordination and Goals for Mobile Mental Health Relief
- Requires coordination between PSAPs and the Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health to ensure mobile crisis response is available, appropriate, and integrated with 9-1-1 and 9-8-8 pathways.
- Outlines state goals to minimize unnecessary hospitalization/incarceration, prioritize on-site care, ensure referrals, and coordinate transportation to the least restrictive setting when possible.
- Sets expectations for regional best practices and data-sharing to monitor effectiveness and outcomes.
Potential impact
- Enhanced officer training and crisis intervention capabilities, with stronger alignment to trauma-informed, victim-centered approaches.
- Expanded role for mobile mental health crisis responders, potentially reducing unnecessary hospital admissions and involuntary commitments.
- Improved interoperability and data infrastructure for NG9-1-1, aiding faster, more accurate emergency response and better routing of mental health crises.
- Greater regulatory oversight and accountability for PSAPs’ adherence to modern crisis response protocols.
Notes
- Some sections reference prior acts and phased effective dates (e.g., CIT modules and CESAs becoming effective on or after 2022-2027 timelines).
- The bill includes detailed definitions for NG9-1-1 components and 9-1-1 system governance.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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