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HB 3697

MOBILE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Dee Avelar and 5 co-sponsors

Expands mobile mental health crisis response to move people to least-restrictive settings, with enhanced training, reporting, liability protections, and PSAP coordination by 2027.

Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 3697

HB 3697 — Mobile Mental Health Providers (104th General Assembly)

Summary / Purpose

HB 3697 amends the Community Emergency Services and Support Act to clarify and expand how Illinois establishes and operates mobile mental and behavioral health response through the Division of Mental Health and the 9-8-8 system. The bill emphasizes providing crisis response in the least restrictive setting feasible, strengthens training and data collection requirements for mobile mental health relief providers, clarifies liability protections, and sets coordination expectations with 9‑1‑1 public safety answering points (PSAPs).

Sponsor: Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy (filed Feb. 18, 2025). Enacted and signed by the Governor June 20, 2025; effective Sept. 1, 2025.

Key provisions and changes

  • Least-restrictive transportation coordination: Requires appropriate mobile response services to coordinate transportation for individuals experiencing a mental or behavioral health emergency to the least restrictive setting feasible, subject to the care decisions of the individual (replaces a prior requirement simply to “provide transportation”).
  • Enhanced provider training requirements: Adequate training for mobile mental health relief providers must include:
    • Recognizing and working with people with neurodivergent and developmental disability diagnoses and techniques to stabilize and connect them to services.
    • Training on the involuntary commitment process, how to identify situations that meet legal standards for involuntary commitment, and limitations on provider participation in that process.
    • Cultural competency and training on social biases to guard against disproportionate application of involuntary commitment.
  • Limits on involuntary commitment participation: Mobile mental health relief providers may only participate in involuntary commitment activities to the extent permitted by the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code.
  • Data collection/reporting: Directs the Statewide Advisory Committee to develop a system to gather information, including counting instances when mobile providers initiate petitions for involuntary commitment.
  • Liability protection: Extends the Good Samaritan Act civil liability exemption to anyone providing care under this Act.
  • PSAP coordination deadline: Each 9‑1‑1 PSAP and emergency services it dispatches must begin coordinating with Division-established mobile mental and behavioral health services once statutory conditions are met — but not later than July 1, 2027 (the bill delays the previous July 1, 2025 deadline).
  • Definitions: Adds and revises multiple definitions (e.g., “mobile mental health relief provider,” “emergency,” “mental or behavioral health,” “physical/chemical restraint,” “PSAP,” “community-based mental or behavioral health services,” “treatment relationship”).

Who is affected

  • Mobile mental health relief providers and the Division of Mental Health (DHS).
  • 9‑1‑1 PSAPs and emergency services that coordinate with mobile behavioral health responses.
  • Individuals experiencing mental or behavioral health emergencies, particularly neurodivergent and developmentally disabled populations.
  • Courts and systems handling involuntary commitment petitions.
  • Local agencies and community-based service providers engaged in post-crisis care and transportation coordination.

Timeline / Procedural status

  • Introduced: Feb. 18, 2025 (Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy).
  • Passed both chambers; enrolled and sent to Governor late May 2025.
  • Signed by Governor: June 20, 2025.
  • Effective date: September 1, 2025.
  • PSAP coordination required no later than: July 1, 2027.

Considerations / Potential impacts

  • Emphasizes diversion from involuntary commitment and use of least-restrictive care settings, which may reduce law-enforcement or emergency-transport-driven hospitalizations.
  • Imposes additional training and reporting requirements on mobile providers and the Statewide Advisory Committee; may require funding and administrative capacity.
  • Liability clarification may encourage provider participation.
  • The delayed PSAP coordination deadline (to 7/1/2027) gives jurisdictions more time to operationalize new responses.

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

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