Bill Text: CA AB1836 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Peace officers: mental health.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-08-11 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB1836 Detail]

Download: California-2021-AB1836-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  April 28, 2022

Amended  IN  Assembly  March 24, 2022

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1836

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Introduced by Assembly Member Maienschein

February 07, 2022

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An act to add Section 13509.1 6034 to the Penal Code, relating to peace officers.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1836, as amended, Maienschein. Peace officers: mental health.

Existing law establishes the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. Under existing law, the commission administers the Innovations Grant Program for the purpose of fostering innovations in training and procedures for law enforcement officers. Existing law requires the grant program to develop and provide wellness programs for law enforcement officers, among other things. Board of State and Community Corrections and charges the board with providing the statewide leadership, coordination, and technical assistance to promote effective state and local efforts and partnerships in California’s adult and juvenile criminal justice system. Under existing law, the board administers several grant programs.

This bill, upon appropriation of funds, would establish the Officer Wellness and Mental Health Grant Program within the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training Board of State and Community Corrections for the purpose of improving officer wellness and expanding mental health resources and suicide prevention. The bill would require the commission board to award grants to eligible local law enforcement agencies and local peace officer associations. The bill would require program funds to be used for one or more specified purposes, including the establishment of officer wellness and peer support units and the hiring and retention of licensed mental health professionals.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.Section 13509.1 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

13509.1.

SECTION 1.

 Section 6034 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

6034.

 (a) There is hereby established the Officer Wellness and Mental Health Grant Program within the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training Board of State and Community Corrections to, upon an appropriation of funds for the purposes described in this section, grant funds for the purpose of improving officer wellness and expanding mental health resources and suicide prevention efforts.

(b) The commission board shall award grants to eligible local law enforcement agencies and local peace officer associations, as authorized by this section.

(c) The Officer Wellness and Mental Health Grant Program funds shall be used by recipient agencies and associations for any one or more of the following purposes:

(1) Establish officer wellness units.

(2) Establish peer support units.

(3) Hire and retain the services of a licensed mental health professional.

(4) Expand existing officer wellness units or peer support units, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(A) Personnel.

(B) Training, including travel costs.

(C) Trauma response resources, including travel costs.

(D) Outreach efforts.

(E) Equipment and supplies.

(5) Expand multiagency mutual aid programs focused on officer wellness and mental health.

(d) An application for the program funds shall identify the specific program goal that will be accomplished.