Committee hears bill to stabilize funding and bar charging individuals for mobile crisis responses

Senator Wicklund presented Senate File 15‑99, intended to stabilize and expand Minnesota’s mobile mental‑health crisis system. The bill would (1) prohibit crisis teams from charging individuals for crisis responses, (2) make crisis services exempt from co‑payments and deductibles under MinnesotaCare, (3) replace older central‑phone references with 988 for crisis contact, and (4) authorize funding and use of funds for protected‑transport vehicles operated by crisis teams.

Witnesses included Sue Apte‑Holden of NAMI Minnesota, who said mobile crisis teams reduce police involvement and jailings and that charging individuals for crisis services creates a perverse incentive to use police instead. Karen Meyering of Woodland Centers said her rural center’s 24‑7 mobile crisis team covers seven counties and more than 4,800 square miles and completed over 2,400 crisis services last year; she said crisis teams save lives and need continued funding.

Committee members asked DHS staff about current funding levels. DHS budget staff said base funding for crisis had been provided and that the 2023 one‑time appropriation created a temporary supplement; appropriations and carryforward left the department with funds available into FY2027, but overall demand and unmet requests from counties and tribes indicate funding needs exceed current resources. Senators asked for follow‑up on county fiscal impact and thanked testifiers; the committee laid the bill over for additional consideration and fiscal analysis.