Washington SB 5644: Concerning providing quality behavioral health co-response services

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to providing quality behavioral health co-1
response services; adding a new section to chapter 36.28A RCW; and 2
creating a new section.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that behavioral 5
health co-response has experienced a surge in popularity in 6
Washington state in the past five years. The legislature recognizes 7
the importance of training for those involved in co-responder 8
programs to promote high standards within programs and to enhance the 9
skills of those already working in this field. The purpose of this 10
act is to develop a core curriculum relevant to first responders and 11
behavioral health professionals working on co-response teams, to 12
create ongoing learning opportunities for emerging and established 13
co-response programs, and to develop the workforce to fill future co-14
responder hiring needs.15
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 36.28A 16
RCW to read as follows:17
(1) Subject to amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, 18
the Washington state association of sheriffs and police chiefs shall 19
partner with a statewide organization of first responders, behavioral 20
S-3396.1
SENATE BILL 5644
State of Washington 67th Legislature 2022 Regular Session
By Senators Wagoner and Frockt
Prefiled 01/04/22. Read first time 01/10/22. Referred to Committee
on Health & Long Term Care.
p. 1 SB 5644

health professionals, and project managers working in co-response 1
programs to:2
(a) Establish a co-responder learning academy in 2022 for 3
individuals working in co-response programs to convene for training, 4
networking, and sharing of best practices, including track offerings 5
for different-sized jurisdictions and police-, fire-, and emergency 6
medical services-based co-response programs;7
(b) Establish four to six learning sites in Washington state with 8
structured learning components and areas of instruction where 9
individuals interested in co-response can spend a day learning with 10
an experienced co-response team;11
(c) Partner with the department of health to develop a 12
certification specific to behavioral health professionals working in 13
the co-response field, including completion of a core curriculum, 14
observation of programs, and completion of a specified number of 15
hours of field work, for the purpose of raising standards for co-16
response programs, encouraging interest in co-response programs, and 17
promoting workforce development; and18
(d) Report on progress and present workforce development 19
recommendations specific to co-response programs to the governor and 20
relevant committees of the legislature by June 30, 2023.21
(2) To accomplish these goals the association shall hire a co-22
response training coordinator with consultation and consent from the 23
statewide organization of first responders, behavioral health 24
professionals, and project managers working in co-response programs 25
specified in subsection (1) of this section. The coordinator shall 26
work closely with this statewide organization and consult with a 27
spectrum of co-response programs and other relevant entities such as 28
the Washington state firefighters' association and the department of 29
health.30
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p. 2 SB 5644