House advances bill to shift post-stabilization mental-health transports away from police

Lawmakers discussed House Bill 2404, which would require an authorized transporter to apprehend and transport individuals for mental-health services and—under earlier drafting—prohibit peace officers from performing those transports after a set implementation date unless safety concerns justify police involvement.

The sponsor said the bill aims to remove law-enforcement officers from the second step of transport after a patient has been stabilized in treatment. "What this bill does is currently right now, if somebody's been petitioned, the officer goes and picks them up from the community, takes them to a behavioral health center for them to be stabilized," the sponsor said. "Once they're stabilized, what's been happening is that they're recalling the officer to come pick them back up again, which is not a great position for somebody in a mental health to be handcuffed and put back in the car. So this removes the police officers from that 2nd step, not the 1st step..." The sponsor added an officer can be recalled if a person remains at high risk or is aggressive.

Staff noted the Senate amendment changed the original implementation schedule: the bill as amended includes a delayed effective date of Jan. 1, 2030 and removed the earlier July 1, 2027 implementation. Members asked clarifying questions about whether the bill would prevent an officer from transporting someone subject to a court-ordered treatment; sponsors and staff said the bill does not prevent necessary officer involvement when safety concerns exist.

Supporters framed the change as both humane and operational: it reduces the likelihood a stabilized patient will be returned in handcuffs and allows officers to resume other duties. The committee advanced the bill as part of the blue-sheet package; no floor vote was recorded in this segment.