,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dgia ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,october #a1 #bjbj,mr4 ,van ,hollen introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to provide for a ,community-,based ,emergency and ,non-,emergency ,response ,grant ,program4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,community-,based ,response ,act4 #b4 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are-- 7#a7 to provide an additional option beyond law enforcement for community-based emergency and non-emergency response for covered populations in need of help or support1 in order to-- 7,a7 target the best professional intervention to an individual in need of help or support2 and 7,b7 avoid escalation of a crisis situation-- 7i7 that may not require a response from law enforcement2 and 7ii7 to which a law enforcement response can create increased risk of harm2 and 7#b7 establishing a grant program to provide that additional response option by awarding funding to partnerships described in section #e7;a74 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,community mental health center ,the term community mental health center has the meaning given the term in section #ahfa of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aciex74 7#b7 ,covered community-based organization ,the term covered community-based organization means an organization that meets the requirements of section #e7;b74 7#c7 ,covered population ,the term covered population means-- 7,a7 individuals who are racial or ethnic minorities or members of an ,indian tribe2 7,b7 immigrants1 including undocumented immigrants1 immigrants who have recently entered the ,united ,states1 and refugees2 7,c7 individuals with limited ,english proficiency1 meaning their primary language for communication is not ,english and communication with emergency responders may be difficult2 7,d7 individuals who are age #fj or older and determined to be likely to be-- 7i7 vulnerable to abuse2 or 7ii7 experiencing health challenges2 7,e7 people with disabilities1 as defined in section #c of the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abajb72 7,f7 people in the ,,lgbtqia community2 7,g7 people who are likely to face disproportionate or discriminatory law enforcement contact2 7,h7 people who are or were involved in the criminal justice system2 7,i7 homeless persons1 as defined in section #ajc of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacjb72 7,j7 people facing or with a history of mental or behavioral health crises or who need check-ins for health1 safety1 or substance use disorder reasons2 7,k7 people experiencing family violence or domestic violence under the laws of the jurisdiction involved1 or dating violence2 7,l7 victims of child abuse and children exposed to violence2 7,m7 people who are likely to be engaged in or to experience violence in the community2 7,n7 people with1 or recovering from1 a substance use disorder2 7,o7 current and former foster youth2 7,p7 youth who are or were involved in the juvenile justice system2 7,q7 victims of conduct described in section #aeia or #bbea of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code2 7,r7 people who engage in acts defined in paragraph 7#d7 of section #ajc of the ,trafficking ,victims ,protection ,act of #bjjj 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #gajb72 7,s7 adult survivors of sexual assault1 as defined under the laws of the jurisdiction involved2 7,t7 victims of trafficking1 as defined in section #ajc of the ,trafficking ,victims ,protection ,act of #bjjj2 7,u7 out-of-school youth2 and 7,v7 people in an acute crisis not covered under subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,u74 7#d7 ,dating violence ,the term dating violence has the meaning given the term in section #djjjb7;a7 of the ,violence ,against ,women ,act of #aiid 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #abbia7;a774 7#e7 ,immigration terms 7,a7 ,immigrant ,the term immigrant means an alien who has entered the ,united ,states4 7,b7 ,undocumented immigrant ,the term undocumented immigrant means an alien who is unlawfully present in the ,united ,states4 7#f7 ,indian tribe2 tribal organization ,the terms ,indian tribe and tribal organization have the meanings given the terms in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7#g7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education means-- 7,a7 such an institution as defined in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja72 and 7,b7 a tribally controlled college or university as defined in section #b of the ,tribally ,controlled ,colleges and ,universities ,assistance ,act of #aigh 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ahja74 7#h7 ,out-of-school youth ,the term out-of-school youth means an individual who is-- 7,a7 not attending any school 7as defined under ,state law72 7,b7 not younger than age #af or older than age #bd2 and 7,c7 one or more of the following3 7i7 ,a young person who has dropped out of school4 7ii7 ,a youth who is within the age of compulsory school attendance1 but has not attended school for at least the most recent complete school year calendar quarter4 7iii7 ,a recipient of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent who is a low-income individual and is either basic skills deficient or an ,english language learner 7as such #c terms are defined in section #c of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cajb774 7iv7 ,an individual who is subject to the criminal justice system4 7v7 ,an individual experience homelessness1 a homeless child or youth1 or a runaway4 7vi7 ,an individual-- 7,i7 who is in foster care1 who has aged out of the foster care system1 or who has attained #af years of age and left foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption2 7,,ii7 who is a child eligible for assistance under section #dgg of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgg72 or 7,,iii7 who is a child in an out-of-home placement4 7vii7 ,an individual who is pregnant or parenting4 7viii7 ,an individual with a disability 7as defined in section #c of the ,workforce ,innovation and ,opportunity ,act 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #cajb774 7ix7 ,a low-income individual 7as defined in that section #c7 who requires additional assistance to enter or complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment4 7#i7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 after consultation with the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development and the ,attorney ,general4 7#aj7 ,substance use disorder ,the term substance use disorder means such a disorder within the meaning of title ,v of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bij;aa et seq474 #d4 ,establishment of grant program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a ,community-,based ,emergency and ,non-,emergency ,response ,grant ,program to improve community-based emergency and non-emergency response for public safety and problem solving1 and to promote the safety and well-being of the populations and communities served under the program by-- 7#a7 identifying eligible organizations with demonstrated capacity for emergency and non-emergency response work1 including violence interruption1 community mediation1 and crisis behavioral health response1 who are capable of providing1 and increasing the capacity of the localities to provide1 emergency and non-emergency response for specified covered populations2 7#b7 developing a local infrastructure of systems and resources needed to develop1 implement1 and sustain effective interventions to protect the mental and physical well-being of members of the community1 prevent violence1 de-escalate volatile situations1 ensure access to human services1 protect property and the environment1 reduce law enforcement use of force1 and ensure the health and safety of communities1 while decreasing the sole reliance on law enforcement for emergency and non-emergency situations2 7#c7 creating and strengthening formal and informal partnerships1 for such purposes as providing solutions and committing resources to sustain and scale up successful models of community-based emergency and non-emergency response2 and 7#d7 providing timely evaluation to clarify the outcomes and costs of the program1 and the new interventions and service models provided through the program1 for service recipients and law enforcement4 7b7 ,initiation grants ,in carrying out the ,program1 the ,secretary shall make initiation grants to not fewer than #dj eligible partnerships1 including not fewer than #d eligible partnerships that include ,indian tribes or tribal organizations1 of which not fewer than #b shall be eligible partnerships led by an ,indian tribe or tribal organization1 to carry out projects to meet the objectives described in subsection 7a74 ,the ,secretary shall make the grants for periods of #e years4 ,the ,secretary shall make the grants to partnerships in geographically diverse areas1 including urban and rural communities1 and in communities with varying population sizes4 7c7 ,continuation grants 7#a7 ,in general ,in carrying out the ,program1 the ,secretary shall make continuation grants to eligible partnerships who are recipients of the initiation grants and who are determined by the ,secretary to be in good standing on completion of the grant period for those grants1 to pay for the ,federal share of the cost of carrying out projects to meet the objectives described in subsection 7a74 ,the ,secretary shall make the grants for periods of #b years4 7#b7 ,non-federal share ,the non-,federal share of the costs described in this subsection shall be #be percent4 ,the eligible partnership receiving such a grant shall provide the non-,federal share from ,state1 tribal1 local1 or private sources4 #e4 ,eligible partnerships 7a7 ,in general ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this title ,act1 an entity shall be a partnership of-- 7#a7 7,a7 a unit of local government 7or its contractor71 or ,indian tribe or tribal organization1 acting through an entity that is independent of any law enforcement agency2 and 7,b7 a covered community-based organization2 and 7#b7 if applicable1 a nonprofit or public institution of higher education1 community mental health center1 or behavioral health organization4 7b7 ,community-,based organization ,a community-based organization referred to in subsection 7a77#a7 shall be a nonprofit community-based organization1 a consortium of nonprofit community-based organizations1 a national nonprofit organization acting as an intermediary for a community-based organization1 or a community-based organization that has a fiscal sponsor that allows the organization to function as an organization that is described in section #eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and exempt from taxation under section #eja7;a7 of that ,code4 #f4 ,grant applications 7a7 ,in general ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this ,act for a project1 a partnership shall submit an application 7which1 for a continuation grant1 shall be an update of the partnership's initiation grant application7 to the ,secretary1 at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including-- 7#a7 information that specifies in detail-- 7,a7 the covered populations that the partnership will target for services under this ,act2 7,b7 the experience of the members of the partnership in successfully working in the community to be served and partnering with the target populations1 including-- 7i7 for a partnership that includes an ,indian tribe or tribal organization1 an understanding of tribal sovereignty2 and 7ii7 for a partnership not described in clause 7i71 the partnership's understanding of racial equity1 systems of oppression1 and the impact of structural racism on the community and population to be served1 the partnership's commitment to promoting such equity1 dismantling such systems1 and reducing such impact1 and an established record of accomplishment in improving outcomes or preventing1 reducing1 or eliminating inequities in that community2 7,c7 how the grant funds will be used2 7,d7 the expertise of the partnership1 including its staff1 in implementing the project to provide the proposed services2 7,e7 how the partnership will implement or develop evidence-based best practices1 including development of culturally informed evidence-based best practices1 in carrying out the project1 including references to applicable research2 and 7,f7 the partnership's plan for gathering feedback from service recipients about the quality of the services1 including contacts and resources1 provided through the project2 and 7#b7 a memorandum of understanding that-- 7,a7 identifies each partner 7including each agency of the unit of local government or ,indian tribe or tribal organization1 as applicable1 involved7 and is signed by a representative of each partner in the partnership carrying out the project2 and 7,b7 outlines-- 7i7 the partnership's engagement with the community1 including members of the covered population1 and the role the engagement played in developing the project2 7ii7 the financial and programmatic commitment of each partner1 and the specific role of a law enforcement agency if involved in a backup role2 7iii7 the responsibilities of emergency dispatch operators1 dispatchers1 and partners in the national #iaa system1 in properly identifying calls in the community to be served necessitating a community-based emergency and non-emergency response and directing those calls to appropriate responders2 7iv7 the responsibilities of information and referral systems for essential community services 7accessed in most localities by dialing #baa7 and the ,national ,suicide ,prevention ,hotline 7to be accessed by dialing #ihh7 for participating in efficiently routing direct callers to services2 7v7 the responsibilities of each partner with respect to data collection and evaluation2 7vi7 how each partner's existing 7as of the date of submission of the application7 vision1 theory of change1 theory of action1 and activities align with those of the grant program set forth in this ,act2 7vii7 the governance structure proposed for the project1 including a system for holding partners accountable2 7viii7 how the eligible partners' governing boards or advisory boards1 and emergency responders1 are representative of the community to be served2 7ix7 how a structure through which residents of the community and grassroots organizations will have an active role in the eligible partnership's decision making2 7x7 how the partnership anticipates that the project involved will decrease the responsibilities of local law enforcement1 including responsibilities related to policing1 arrests1 and incarceration1 and of other public safety entities2 7xi7 any ,state or local laws that may be an impediment to implementation of the project2 and 7xii7 any other information the ,secretary reasonably determines to be necessary4 7b7 ,priority ,in making grants under this ,act1 the ,secretary shall give priority to-- 7#a7 eligible partnerships that include covered community-based organizations with a documented record of effectively serving #a or more covered populations2 and 7#b7 eligible partnerships that include covered community-based organizations that are led by individuals who are members of the covered populations to be served4 #g4 ,use of funds 7a7 ,in general ,an eligible partnership that receives a grant under this ,act for a project may use the grant funds for-- 7#a7 project planning and community engagement2 7#b7 project implementation2 7#c7 staffing and recruitment2 7#d7 facilities2 7#e7 operational costs1 including costs of startup or expansion activities1 marketing1 language translation1 and transportation2 7#f7 engagement with technical assistance providers2 7#g7 consulting services2 7#h7 training2 7#i7 program and project evaluation1 including evaluation of program and project efficacy1 staff performance1 and service delivery2 7#aj7 programming and service interventions that include-- 7,a7 activities that prioritize human service interventions1 by entities other than law enforcement1 over interventions by law enforcement2 or 7,b7 activities that include triaging emergencies1 through emergency dispatch operators1 in a manner that results in referral to a wholly nonpolice entity2 and 7#aa7 programming and service interventions that may include-- 7,a7 activities that include co-occurring law enforcement and human services activities1 such as responses to calls about dating violence2 7,b7 activities that include followup by human services organizations after contact by law enforcement1 such as community mediation1 social services1 or behavioral health services2 7,c7 training for emergency dispatch operators2 and 7,d7 training for community members1 or family members of people requiring emergency or non-emergency response1 to facilitate comprehensive and clear communication with emergency dispatch operators to ensure that necessary information is conveyed about when an intervention by a nonpolice human services organization is the most appropriate response4 7b7 ,funding limitation ,none of the grant funds shall be provided to ,state1 tribal1 or local law enforcement agencies4 #h4 ,technical assistance ,the ,secretary shall arrange for a national technical assistance provider for organizations described in section #e1 to provide technical assistance support and develop and disseminate best practices for projects carried out under this ,act4 #i4 ,annual reporting requirements ,each recipient of a grant for a project under this section is required to submit an annual report to the ,secretary that details-- 7#a7 the specific uses of the grant funds2 7#b7 the number of individuals contacted through the project2 7#c7 the number of individuals connected with ongoing services or resources through the project1 disaggregated by race1 ethnicity1 gender1 sexual orientation and gender identity1 disability status1 and other characteristics2 7#d7 the quality of the contacts1 services1 and resources1 as reported by the individuals contacted2 7#e7 any evidence of positive outcomes following the contacts or connections2 7#f7 any evidence of negative outcomes that may have occurred following the contacts or connections2 7#g7 the percentage of total emergency calls diverted from law enforcement to the grant recipient2 7#h7 the percentage of emergency calls diverted to the grant recipient that have been addressed2 7#i7 the extent to which the grant recipient is hiring or training individuals from within the covered population1 and the recruitment1 hiring1 training1 and retention practices for such individuals2 7#aj7 any related reduction in the number of calls to law enforcement over the period of the project2 7#aa7 any changes in the types of calls made to the #iaa system1 to the extent that it is practicable to report information on such changes2 7#ab7 any increases in the number of calls to the #baa 7or equivalent7 systems for essential non-emergency community services or calls to the #ihh ,national ,suicide ,prevention ,hotline over the period of the project2 7#ac7 any related reduction in the budget of the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the community served by the eligible partnership over that period2 7#ad7 any ,state or local laws that were an impediment to implementation of the project2 and 7#ae7 any evidence of completed in-home1 teletherapy1 or in-community responses that included counseling1 crisis response1 family treatment1 mediation1 or other evidence-based interventions that addressed complex needs not able to be resolved by non-emergency calls alone4 #aj4 ,evaluation and report ,not later than ,october #a1 #bjbf1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 complete an evaluation detailing the implementation of1 outcomes of1 and best practices from the grant program carried out under this ,act1 including program-wide information on the factors described in paragraphs 7#b7 through 7#ae7 of section #i2 and 7#b7 submit to ,congress a report containing the evaluation4 #aa4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated-- 7#a7 to carry out initiation grants under this section1 #ajj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbe2 and 7#b7 to carry out continuation grants under this section1 #ge1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf and #bjbg4