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House bill to allow green‑envelope mental‑health alert passes committee
Summary
House Bill 1798, modeled on an existing ‘blue envelope’ program, passed the Senate committee. Supporters said the program will give law enforcement and civilians a quick, nonconfrontational way to flag a person’s mental‑health condition during interactions.
A Senate committee voted to report House Bill 1798 do pass after the sponsor described it as a mirror of the recently enacted “blue envelope” program, adapted to help people with diagnosed mental illness.
Representative Jason Ejranko and licensed clinical social worker Ange Pereira told the committee the proposed green‑envelope program would allow clinicians to document qualifying mental‑health diagnoses and provide a small, durable notice that a person can carry. The notice would help first responders and officers recognize that a person has a diagnosed mental illness and may de‑escalate encounters.
Pereira explained clinicians use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM‑5) to make formal diagnoses and would provide documentation when appropriate. The sponsor said law enforcement and the Department of Finance and Administration raised no objections; the bill includes a modest fiscal note similar to the blue‑envelope program.
Supporters said the program aims to protect both people with mental illness and officers by providing a simple, well‑documented signal during encounters that might otherwise escalate. Several senators expressed support. The committee approved the bill by voice vote.
Votes at a glance: HB 1798 — Motion to report do pass (mover: Senator Scott); outcome: approved (voice vote).
