North Carolina HB 504: Pilot Co-Responder Police Program.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 504

Short Title: Pilot Co-Responder Police Program. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Cotham and Budd (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
March 26, 2025
*H504-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR A PILOT PROGRAM FOR A CO-RESPONDER 2
PROGRAM. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. There is appropriated from the General Fund for each year of the 5
2025-2027 fiscal biennium the nonrecurring sum of four hundred seventy-four thousand six 6
hundred eighty dollars ($474,680) to Mecklenburg County to be allocated to the entities and in 7
the amounts listed in this section. The purpose of the funding is a pilot program co-responder 8
model designed to integrate mental health professionals with law enforcement responding to 9
mental health related calls by people in distress needing assistance. The funds shall be used to 10
hire and integrate within the law enforcement agency of each locality identified below one 11
full-time mental health professional to be paired with law enforcement, either on a dedicated 12
team or as part of a specialized unit, in responding to calls and incidences identified as involving 13
mental health crises or persons with mental health issues. Funds appropriated in this section are 14
allocated annually as follows for purposes consistent with this act: 15
(1) One hundred thirty-one thousand two hundred eighty dollars ($131,280) to the 16
Town of Matthews. 17
(2) One hundred seventy-one thousand seven hundred dollars ($171,700) to the 18
Town of Pineville. 19
(3) One hundred seventy-one thousand seven hundred dollars ($171,700) to the 20
Town of Mint Hill. 21
SECTION 2. This act becomes effective July 1, 2025. 22