Mental Health Training Enhancement for First Responders Act of 2016

Summary: Mental Health Training Enhancement for First Responders Act of 2016 This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand the allowable use of grant funds under the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program to include specialized mental health training for law enforcement officers.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Mental Health Training Enhancement 
for First Responders Act of 2016''.

SEC. 2. MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

    Section 2991(b)(5)(I) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets 
Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797aa(b)(5)(I)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
                            ``(v) Mental health training for law 
                        enforcement.--Funds may be used for specialized 
                        training for law enforcement officers, 
                        consistent with the following:
                                    ``(I) The training provides 
                                officers with an understanding of--
                                            ``(aa) mental illnesses and 
                                        their impact on individuals, 
                                        families, and communities;
                                            ``(bb) signs and symptoms 
                                        of mental illnesses;
                                            ``(cc) stabilization and 
                                        de-escalation techniques;
                                            ``(dd) disposition options;
                                            ``(ee) community resources; 
                                        and
                                            ``(ff) funding for States 
                                        to create a database for all 
                                        public safety and outreach.
                                    ``(II) The training includes--
                                            ``(aa) role play scenarios 
                                        on responding to mental health 
                                        crises;
                                            ``(bb) group problem 
                                        solving exercises;
                                            ``(cc) addressing issues 
                                        specific to the community;
                                            ``(dd) participation by 
                                        mental health personnel, 
                                        experienced officers, and other 
                                        stakeholders;
                                            ``(ee) cross training with 
                                        law enforcement and mental 
                                        health professionals;
                                            ``(ff) verbal de-escalation 
                                        skills; and
                                            ``(gg) presentations from 
                                        and interaction with people who 
                                        have experienced and recovered 
                                        from mental health crises and 
                                        with family members who have 
                                        cared for someone with mental 
                                        illness.
                                    ``(III) In the case of training for 
                                call-takers and 911 dispatchers, the 
                                training includes recommendations on--
                                            ``(aa) establishing if the 
                                        caller or others at the address 
                                        has a previous record of mental 
                                        health issues, drug abuse, 
                                        violence, or victimization;
                                            ``(bb) determining if any 
                                        individual at the address from 
                                        which the call is placed poses 
                                        a threat of harm to himself or 
                                        herself, or to others;
                                            ``(cc) determining if there 
                                        is a weapon involved in a 
                                        situation with regard to which 
                                        an emergency call is placed;
                                            ``(dd) establishing best 
                                        practice standards for handling 
                                        emergency calls to be shared 
                                        interagency;
                                            ``(ee) supplementing 
                                        training with a concise list of 
                                        questions to ask, compiled in 
                                        partnership between law 
                                        enforcement officials and 
                                        mental health professionals; 
                                        and
                                            ``(ff) relaying information 
                                        correctly to any emergency 
                                        responders to the emergency 
                                        call.''.

SEC. 3. OUNCE OF PREVENTION GRANT.

    Section 30102 of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act 
of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13742) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``; and'' at the 
                end and inserting ``;'';
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) placing law enforcement officers at local education 
        agencies.''; and
            (2) in subsection (b), by inserting after ``private 
        nonprofit entities'' the following: ``, mental health 
        entities''.

SEC. 4. COMMUNITY SCHOOLS YOUTH SERVICES AND SUPERVISION GRANT PROGRAM.

    Section 30401(b)(B) of the Violent Crime Control and Law 
Enforcement Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13791(b)(B)) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
                            ``(ix) Mental health entities.''.