An act relating to the provision of grants for mental health providers working in collaboration with municipal police departments

This bill creates a state grant program to support mental health providers who work alongside municipal police departments in Vermont. The program would provide funding to cover half of the costs for mental health services delivered by designated agencies in partnership with local police forces. To qualify, municipalities must commit to covering the remaining 50 percent of costs from their own budgets and must have a population of at least 2,500 residents. The Department of Mental Health would administer the program, with grants awarded to agencies that submit applications detailing their collaboration plans, including provider duties, training, and insurance arrangements. An initial $800,000 appropriation is included for fiscal year 2024 to fund these grants.