Bill Text: IL HB3697 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Community Emergency Services and Support Act. Modifies legislative findings. Provides that appropriate mobile response services must, among other things, subject to the care decisions of the individual receiving care, coordinate transportation for any individual experiencing a mental or behavioral health emergency to the least restrictive setting feasible (rather than provide transportation for any individual experiencing a mental or behavioral health emergency). Provides that adequate mobile mental health relief provider training includes, among other things, training in recognizing and working with people with neurodivergent and developmental disability diagnoses and in the techniques available to help stabilize and connect them to further services and training in the involuntary commitment process, in identification of situations that meet the standards for involuntary commitment, and in cultural competencies and social biases to guard against any group being disproportionately subjected to the involuntary commitment process or the use of the process not warranted under the legal standard for involuntary commitment. Provides that mobile mental health relief providers may only participate in the involuntary commitment process to the extent permitted under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Requires the system for gathering information developed by the Statewide Advisory Committee to determine the number of instances of mobile mental health relief providers initiating petitions for involuntary commitment. Provides that the exemption from civil liability for emergency care provided in the Good Samaritan Act applies to anyone providing care under the Act. Provides that each 9-1-1 public safety answering point and emergency service dispatched through a 9-1-1 public safety answering point must begin coordinating its activities with the mobile mental and behavioral health services established by the Division of Mental Health once all 3 of the following conditions are met, but not later than July 1, 2027 (rather than July 1, 2025). Adds definitions and modifies existing definitions. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-18 - Referred to Rules Committee [HB3697 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HB3697-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3697 Introduced , by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
See Index
Amends the Community Emergency Services and Support Act. Modifies legislative findings. Provides that appropriate mobile response services must, among other things, subject to the care decisions of the individual receiving care, coordinate transportation for any individual experiencing a mental or behavioral health emergency to the least restrictive setting feasible (rather than provide transportation for any individual experiencing a mental or behavioral health emergency). Provides that adequate mobile mental health relief provider training includes, among other things, training in recognizing and working with people with neurodivergent and developmental disability diagnoses and in the techniques available to help stabilize and connect them to further services and training in the involuntary commitment process, in identification of situations that meet the standards for involuntary commitment, and in cultural competencies and social biases to guard against any group being disproportionately subjected to the involuntary commitment process or the use of the process not warranted under the legal standard for involuntary commitment. Provides that mobile mental health relief providers may only participate in the involuntary commitment process to the extent permitted under the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Requires the system for gathering information developed by the Statewide Advisory Committee to determine the number of instances of mobile mental health relief providers initiating petitions for involuntary commitment. Provides that the exemption from civil liability for emergency care provided in the Good Samaritan Act applies to anyone providing care under the Act. Provides that each 9-1-1 public safety answering point and emergency service dispatched through a 9-1-1 public safety answering point must begin coordinating its activities with the mobile mental and behavioral health services established by the Division of Mental Health once all 3 of the following conditions are met, but not later than July 1, 2027 (rather than July 1, 2025). Adds definitions and modifies existing definitions. Effective immediately.
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A BILL FOR
HB3697 LRB104 12197 RTM 22302 b
AN ACT concerning local government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Community Emergency Services and Support
Act is amended by changing Sections 5, 15, 25, 30, 40, 55, and
65 as follows:
(50 ILCS 754/5)
Sec. 5. Findings. The General Assembly recognizes that the
Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Mental
Health is preparing to provide mobile mental and behavioral
health services to all Illinoisans as part of the federally
mandated adoption of the 9-8-8 phone number. The General
Assembly also recognizes that many cities and some states have
successfully established mobile emergency mental and
behavioral health services as part of their emergency response
system to support people who need such support and do not
present a threat of physical violence to the mobile mental
health relief providers. In light of that experience, the
General Assembly finds that in order to promote and protect
the health, safety, and welfare of the public, it is necessary
and in the public interest to provide emergency response, with
or without medical transportation, to individuals requiring
mental health or behavioral health services in a manner that

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is substantially equivalent to the response already provided
to individuals who require emergency physical health care.
The General Assembly also recognizes the history of
vulnerable populations being subject to unwarranted
involuntary commitment or other human rights violations
instead of receiving necessary care during acute crises which
may contribute to an understandable apprehension of behavioral
health services among individuals who have historically been
subject to these practices. The General Assembly intends for
the Mobile Mental Health Relief Providers regulated by this
Act to assist with crises that do not rise to the level of
involuntary commitment. However, the General Assembly also
recognizes that Mobile Mental Health Relief Providers may,
during the course of assisting with a crisis, encounter
individuals who present an imminent threat of injury to
themselves or others unless they receive assistance through
the involuntary commitment process. This Act intends to
balance concerns about misuse of the involuntary commitment
process with the need for emergency care for individuals whose
crisis presents an imminent threat of injury.
(Source: P.A. 102-580, eff. 1-1-22; 103-105, eff. 6-27-23.)
(50 ILCS 754/15)
Sec. 15. Definitions. As used in this Act:
"Chemical restraint" means any drug used for discipline or
convenience and not required to treat medical symptoms.

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"Community services" and "community-based mental or
behavioral health services" include both public and private
settings.
"Division of Mental Health" means the Division of Mental
Health of the Department of Human Services.
"Emergency" means an emergent circumstance caused by a
health condition, regardless of whether it is perceived as
physical, mental, or behavioral in nature, for which an
individual may require prompt care, support, or assessment at
the individual's location.
"Mental or behavioral health" means any health condition
involving changes in thinking, emotion, or behavior, and that
the medical community treats as distinct from physical health
care.
"Mobile mental health relief provider" means a person
engaging with a member of the public to provide the mobile
mental and behavioral service established in conjunction with
the Division of Mental Health establishing the 9-8-8 emergency
number. "Mobile mental health relief provider" does not
include a Paramedic (EMT-P) or EMT, as those terms are defined
in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act, unless
that responding agency has agreed to provide a specialized
response in accordance with the Division of Mental Health's
services offered through its 9-8-8 number and has met all the
requirements to offer that service through that system.
"Physical health" means a health condition that the

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medical community treats as distinct from mental or behavioral
health care.
"Physical restraint" means any manual method or physical
or mechanical device, material, or equipment attached or
adjacent to an individual's body that the individual cannot
easily remove and restricts freedom of movement or normal
access to one's body. "Physical restraint" does not include a
seat belt if it is used during transportation of an individual
and the individual has access to the mechanism that releases
the seat belt.
"Public safety answering point" or "PSAP" means the
primary answering location of an emergency call that meets the
appropriate standards of service and is responsible for
receiving and processing those calls and events according to a
specified operational policy a Public Safety Answering Point
tele-communicator.
"Community services" and "community-based mental or
behavioral health services" may include both public and
private settings.
"Treatment relationship" means an active association with
a mental or behavioral care provider able to respond in an
appropriate amount of time to requests for care.
(Source: P.A. 102-580, eff. 1-1-22; 103-105, eff. 6-27-23.)
(50 ILCS 754/25)
Sec. 25. State goals.

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(a) 9-1-1 PSAPs, emergency services dispatched through
9-1-1 PSAPs, and the mobile mental and behavioral health
service established by the Division of Mental Health must
coordinate their services so that the State goals listed in
this Section are achieved. Appropriate mobile response service
for mental and behavioral health emergencies shall be
available regardless of whether the initial contact was with
9-8-8, 9-1-1 or directly with an emergency service dispatched
through 9-1-1. Appropriate mobile response services must:
(1) whenever possible, ensure that individuals
experiencing mental or behavioral health crises are
diverted from hospitalization or incarceration and are
instead linked with available appropriate community
services;
(2) include the option of on-site care if that type of
care is appropriate and does not override the care
decisions of the individual receiving care. Providing care
in the community, through methods like mobile crisis
units, is encouraged. If effective care is provided on
site, and if it is consistent with the care decisions of
the individual receiving the care, further transportation
to other medical providers is not required by this Act;
(3) recommend appropriate referrals for available
community services if the individual receiving on-site
care is not already in a treatment relationship with a
service provider or is unsatisfied with their current

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service providers. The referrals shall take into
consideration waiting lists and copayments, which may
present barriers to access; and
(4) subject to the care decisions of the individual
receiving care, coordinate provide transportation for any
individual experiencing a mental or behavioral health
emergency to the least restrictive setting feasible.
Transportation shall be to the most integrated and least
restrictive setting appropriate in the community, such as
to the individual's home or chosen location, community
crisis respite centers, clinic settings, behavioral health
centers, or the offices of particular medical care
providers with existing treatment relationships to the
individual seeking care.
(b) Prioritize requests for emergency assistance. 9-1-1
PSAPs, emergency services dispatched through 9-1-1 PSAPs, and
the mobile mental and behavioral health service established by
the Division of Mental Health must provide guidance for
prioritizing calls for assistance and maximum response time in
relation to the type of emergency reported.
(c) Provide appropriate response times. From the time of
first notification, 9-1-1 PSAPs, emergency services dispatched
through 9-1-1 PSAPs, and the mobile mental and behavioral
health service established by the Division of Mental Health
must provide the response within response time appropriate to
the care requirements of the individual with an emergency.

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(d) Require appropriate mobile mental health relief
provider training. Mobile mental health relief providers must
have adequate training to address the needs of individuals
experiencing a mental or behavioral health emergency. Adequate
training at least includes:
(1) training in de-escalation techniques;
(2) knowledge of local community services and
supports; and
(3) training in respectful interaction with people
experiencing mental or behavioral health crises, including
the concepts of stigma and respectful language; .
(4) training in recognizing and working with people
with neurodivergent and developmental disability diagnoses
and in the techniques available to help stabilize and
connect them to further services; and
(5) training in the involuntary commitment process, in
identification of situations that meet the standards for
involuntary commitment, and in cultural competencies and
social biases to guard against any group being
disproportionately subjected to the involuntary commitment
process or the use of the process not warranted under the
legal standard for involuntary commitment.
(e) Require minimum team staffing. The Division of Mental
Health, in consultation with the Regional Advisory Committees
created in Section 40, shall determine the appropriate
credentials for the mental health providers responding to

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calls, including to what extent the mobile mental health
relief providers must have certain credentials and licensing,
and to what extent the mobile mental health relief providers
can be peer support professionals.
(f) Require training from individuals with lived
experience. Training shall be provided by individuals with
lived experience to the extent available.
(g) Adopt guidelines directing referral to restrictive
care settings. Mobile mental health relief providers must have
guidelines to follow when considering whether to refer an
individual to more restrictive forms of care, like emergency
room or hospital settings.
(h) Specify regional best practices. Mobile mental health
relief providers providing these services must do so
consistently with best practices, which include respecting the
care choices of the individuals receiving assistance. Regional
best practices may be broken down into sub-regions, as
appropriate to reflect local resources and conditions. With
the agreement of the impacted EMS Regions, providers of
emergency response to physical emergencies may participate in
another EMS Region for mental and behavioral response, if that
participation shall provide a better service to individuals
experiencing a mental or behavioral health emergency.
(i) Adopt system for directing care in advance of an
emergency. The Division of Mental Health shall select and
publicly identify a system that allows individuals who

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voluntarily chose to do so to provide confidential advanced
care directions to individuals providing services under this
Act. No system for providing advanced care direction may be
implemented unless the Division of Mental Health approves it
as confidential, available to individuals at all economic
levels, and non-stigmatizing. The Division of Mental Health
may defer this requirement for providing a system for advanced
care direction if it determines that no existing systems can
currently meet these requirements.
(j) Train dispatching staff. The personnel staffing 9-1-1,
3-1-1, or other emergency response intake systems must be
provided with adequate training to assess whether coordinating
with 9-8-8 is appropriate.
(k) Establish protocol for emergency responder
coordination. The Division of Mental Health shall establish a
protocol for mobile mental health relief providers, law
enforcement, and fire and ambulance services to request
assistance from each other, and train these groups on the
protocol.
(l) Integrate law enforcement. The Division of Mental
Health shall provide for law enforcement to request mobile
mental health relief provider assistance whenever law
enforcement engages an individual appropriate for services
under this Act. If law enforcement would typically request EMS
assistance when it encounters an individual with a physical
health emergency, law enforcement shall similarly dispatch

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mental or behavioral health personnel or medical
transportation when it encounters an individual in a mental or
behavioral health emergency.
(Source: P.A. 102-580, eff. 1-1-22; 103-105, eff. 6-27-23.)
(50 ILCS 754/30)
Sec. 30. State prohibitions. 9-1-1 PSAPs, emergency
services dispatched through 9-1-1 PSAPs, and the mobile mental
and behavioral health service established by the Division of
Mental Health must coordinate their services so that, based on
the information provided to them, the following State
prohibitions are avoided:
(a) Law enforcement responsibility for providing mental
and behavioral health care. In any area where mobile mental
health relief providers are available for dispatch, law
enforcement shall not be dispatched to respond to an
individual requiring mental or behavioral health care unless
that individual is (i) involved in a suspected violation of
the criminal laws of this State, or (ii) presents a threat of
physical injury to self or others. Mobile mental health relief
providers are not considered available for dispatch under this
Section if 9-8-8 reports that it cannot dispatch appropriate
service within the maximum response times established by each
Regional Advisory Committee under Section 45.
(1) Standing on its own or in combination with each
other, the fact that an individual is experiencing a

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mental or behavioral health emergency, or has a mental
health, behavioral health, or other diagnosis, is not
sufficient to justify an assessment that the individual is
a threat of physical injury to self or others, or requires
a law enforcement response to a request for emergency
response or medical transportation.
(2) If, based on its assessment of the threat to
public safety, law enforcement would not accompany medical
transportation responding to a physical health emergency,
unless requested by mobile mental health relief providers,
law enforcement may not accompany emergency response or
medical transportation personnel responding to a mental or
behavioral health emergency that presents an equivalent
level of threat to self or public safety.
(3) Without regard to an assessment of threat to self
or threat to public safety, law enforcement may station
personnel so that they can rapidly respond to requests for
assistance from mobile mental health relief providers if
law enforcement does not interfere with the provision of
emergency response or transportation services. To the
extent practical, not interfering with services includes
remaining sufficiently distant from or out of sight of the
individual receiving care so that law enforcement presence
is unlikely to escalate the emergency.
(b) Mobile mental health relief provider involvement in
involuntary commitment. Mobile mental health relief providers

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may participate in the involuntary commitment process only to
the extent permitted under the Mental Health and Developmental
Disabilities Code. The Division of Behavioral Health shall, in
consultation with each Regional Advisory Committee, as
appropriate, monitor the use of involuntary commitment under
this Act and provide systemic recommendations to improve
outcomes for those subject to commitment. In order to maintain
the appropriate care relationship, mobile mental health relief
providers shall not in any way assist in the involuntary
commitment of an individual beyond (i) reporting to their
dispatching entity or to law enforcement that they believe the
situation requires assistance the mobile mental health relief
providers are not permitted to provide under this Section;
(ii) providing witness statements; and (iii) fulfilling
reporting requirements the mobile mental health relief
providers may have under their professional ethical
obligations or laws of this State. This prohibition shall not
interfere with any mobile mental health relief provider's
ability to provide physical or mental health care.
(c) Use of law enforcement for transportation. In any area
where mobile mental health relief providers are available for
dispatch, unless requested by mobile mental health relief
providers, law enforcement shall not be used to provide
transportation to access mental or behavioral health care, or
travel between mental or behavioral health care providers,
except where (i) no alternative is available; (ii) the

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individual requests transportation from law enforcement and
law enforcement mutually agrees to provide transportation; or
(iii) the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code
requires law enforcement to provide transportation.
(d) Reduction of educational institution obligations. The
services coordinated under this Act may not be used to replace
any service an educational institution is required to provide
to a student. It shall not substitute for appropriate special
education and related services that schools are required to
provide by any law.
(e) This Section is operative beginning on the date the 3
conditions in Section 65 are met or July 1, 2025, whichever is
earlier.
(Source: P.A. 102-580, eff. 1-1-22; 103-105, eff. 6-27-23;
103-645, eff. 7-1-24.)
(50 ILCS 754/40)
Sec. 40. Statewide Advisory Committee.
(a) The Division of Mental Health shall establish a
Statewide Advisory Committee to review and make
recommendations for aspects of coordinating 9-1-1 and the
9-8-8 mobile mental health response system most appropriately
addressed on a State level.
(b) Issues to be addressed by the Statewide Advisory
Committee include, but are not limited to, addressing changes
necessary in 9-1-1 call taking protocols and scripts used in

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9-1-1 PSAPs where those protocols and scripts are based on or
otherwise dependent on national providers for their operation.
(c) The Statewide Advisory Committee shall recommend a
system for gathering data related to the coordination of the
9-1-1 and 9-8-8 systems for purposes of allowing the parties
to make ongoing improvements in that system. As practical, the
system shall attempt to determine issues, which may include,
but are not limited to including, but not limited to:
(1) the volume of calls coordinated between 9-1-1 and
9-8-8;
(2) the volume of referrals from other first
responders to 9-8-8;
(3) the volume and type of calls deemed appropriate
for referral to 9-8-8 but could not be served by 9-8-8
because of capacity restrictions or other reasons;
(4) the appropriate information to improve
coordination between 9-1-1 and 9-8-8; and
(5) the appropriate information to improve the 9-8-8
system, if the information is most appropriately gathered
at the 9-1-1 PSAPs; and .
(6) the number of instances of mobile mental health
relief providers initiating petitions for involuntary
commitment, broken down by county and contracting entity
employing the petitioning mobile mental health relief
providers and the aggregate demographic data of the
individuals subject to those petitions.

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(d) The Statewide Advisory Committee shall consist of:
(1) the Statewide 9-1-1 Administrator, ex officio;
(2) one representative designated by the Illinois
Chapter of National Emergency Number Association (NENA);
(3) one representative designated by the Illinois
Chapter of Association of Public Safety Communications
Officials (APCO);
(4) one representative of the Division of Mental
Health;
(5) one representative of the Illinois Department of
Public Health;
(6) one representative of a statewide organization of
EMS responders;
(7) one representative of a statewide organization of
fire chiefs;
(8) two representatives of statewide organizations of
law enforcement;
(9) two representatives of mental health, behavioral
health, or substance abuse providers; and
(10) four representatives of advocacy organizations
either led by or consisting primarily of individuals with
intellectual or developmental disabilities, individuals
with behavioral disabilities, or individuals with lived
experience.
(e) The members of the Statewide Advisory Committee, other
than the Statewide 9-1-1 Administrator, shall be appointed by

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the Secretary of Human Services.
(f) The Statewide Advisory Committee shall continue to
meet until this Act has been fully implemented, as determined
by the Division of Mental Health, and mobile mental health
relief providers are available in all parts of Illinois. The
Division of Mental Health may reconvene the Statewide Advisory
Committee at its discretion after full implementation of this
Act.
(Source: P.A. 102-580, eff. 1-1-22; 103-105, eff. 6-27-23.)
(50 ILCS 754/55)
Sec. 55. Immunity.
(a) The exemptions from civil liability in Section 15.1 of
the Emergency Telephone System Systems Act apply to any act or
omission in the development, design, installation, operation,
maintenance, performance, or provision of service directed by
this Act.
(b) Persons, agencies, governmental bodies, private
organizations, governmental organizations, or institutions
that in good faith provide emergency or nonemergency
behavioral health services during a Department of Human
Services-approved training course, in the normal course of
conducting their duties, or in an emergency, may not be held
civilly liable or liable for civil damages as a result of any
acts or omissions in providing those services unless the acts
or omissions constitute willful and wanton misconduct. This

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immunity from civil liability extends to the administration,
sponsorship, authorization, support, finance, education, or
supervision of emergency behavioral health crisis services
personnel who are certified, licensed, or authorized under
this Act, including persons participating in a Department of
Human Services-approved training program.
(c) The exemption from civil liability for emergency care
provided in the Good Samaritan Act applies to anyone providing
care under this Act.
(Source: P.A. 102-580, eff. 1-1-22; revised 7-29-24.)
(50 ILCS 754/65)
Sec. 65. PSAP and emergency service dispatched through a
9-1-1 PSAP; coordination of activities with mobile and
behavioral health services.
(a) Each 9-1-1 PSAP and emergency service dispatched through a
9-1-1 PSAP must begin coordinating its activities with the
mobile mental and behavioral health services established by
the Division of Mental Health once all 3 of the following
conditions are met, but not later than July 1, 2027 2025:
(1) the Statewide Committee has negotiated useful
protocol and 9-1-1 operator script adjustments with the
contracted services providing these tools to 9-1-1 PSAPs
operating in Illinois;
(2) the appropriate Regional Advisory Committee has
completed design of the specific 9-1-1 PSAP's process for

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coordinating activities with the mobile mental and
behavioral health service; and
(3) the mobile mental and behavioral health service is
available in their jurisdiction.
(b) To achieve the conditions of subsection (a) by July 1,
2027, the following activities shall be completed:
(1) No later than June 30, 2025, pilot testing of the
revised protocols;
(2) No later than June 30, 2026:
(A) assessment and evaluation of the pilots;
(B) revisions, as needed, of protocols and
operations based on assessment and evaluation of the
pilots;
(C) implementation of revised protocols at pilot
sites; and
(D) implementation of revised protocols by PSAPs
who are ready to implement, otherwise known as early
adopters; and
(3) No later than June 30, 2027, implementation of
revised protocols by all remaining PSAPs, including any
PSAPs that previously cited financial barriers to updating
systems.
(Source: P.A. 102-580, eff. 1-1-22; 102-1109, eff. 12-21-22;
103-105, eff. 6-27-23; 103-645, eff. 7-1-24.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.
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INDEX
Statutes amended in order of appearance
50 ILCS 754/5
50 ILCS 754/15
50 ILCS 754/25
50 ILCS 754/30
50 ILCS 754/40
50 ILCS 754/55
50 ILCS 754/65