In Case You Missed It: Trone-Led Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act is Now Law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2023
Contact: Sloane Gallagher, Sloane.Gallagher@mail.house.gov
In Case You Missed It: Trone-Led Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act is Now Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. — During the last week of December, Congressman Trone’s (D-MD) bipartisan Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden. The legislation will better equip law enforcement officers to respond to mental and behavioral health crises and connect folks with the right resources and services to address their needs.
“The Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act will ensure that folks experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis can get the support that they need,” said Congressman David Trone. “By providing law enforcement officers with proper training, we can improve outcomes, save lives, and better assist those in crisis. This is an important step in the right direction towards better policing and mental health care. As long as I’m in Congress, I will always fight for vital resources to make our communities safer.”
Congressman Trone co-led the bill alongside Congressmen Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Steve Chabot (R-OH) and former Representative Karen Bass (D-CA). In the Senate, the Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act was led by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and passed the chamber unanimously.
The Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training Act will:
- Authorize $70 million in annual grant funding for training, including scenario-based exercises and evaluative assessments;
- Require the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to develop curricula in training topics, or identifying existing curricula, in consultation with law enforcement, mental health organizations, family advocacy organizations, and civil liberties groups, among other stakeholders; and,
- Require the National Institute of Justice and the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the implementation of the program and the effect of the training, to ensure that the curricula have a tangible impact on law enforcement encounters with people in crisis, and identify possible changes that would further improve outcomes.
You can find the full text of the bill here.
In the House, the bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Cole (R-OK), Lieu (D-CA), Cicilline (D-RI), Salazar (R-FL), Jackson Lee (D-TX), Miller (R-WV), Kuster (D-NH), Calvert (R-CA), Blunt, Rochester (D-DE), Lamborn (R-CO), Davis (D-IL), Graves (R-LA), Scott (D-GA), Kilmer (D-WA), Crow (D-CO), Case (D-HI), Gonzales (R-TX), and Scanlon (D-PA).
The bill is endorsed by Fraternal Order of Police, Major County Sheriffs of America, Major Cities Chiefs Association, National Criminal Justice Association, National Association of Police Organizations, National Sheriffs’ Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association NYPD, National Association of Counties, Right on Crime, Faith and Freedom, Prison Fellowship, American Psychological Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness, American Counseling Association, National Register of Health Service Psychologists, American Association of Suicidology, College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists, American Association on Health and Disability, Lakeshore Foundation, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work, Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors, National Association for Rural Mental Health, National Federation of Families, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, the Niskanen Center, Peace Officers Research Association of California, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, and National Latino Evangelical Coalition.
Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. Trone serves on the Appropriations, Veterans’ Affairs, and Joint Economic Committees. In Congress, Trone is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders, including the mental health and addiction crises, criminal justice reform, and funding for medical research.
Follow Congressman Trone at @RepDavidTrone for updates on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
