Concerning civilian-staffed crisis response teams.

 H-1486.1

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1816

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans (originally sponsored by Representatives Scott, Parshley, Farivar, Dufault, Fitzgibbon, Davis, Goodman, Obras, Taylor, Pollet, Nance, Ryu, Hill, and Cortes)

READ FIRST TIME 02/20/25.

AN ACT Relating to civilian-staffed crisis response teams; reenacting and amending RCW 42.56.230 ; and adding a new section to chapter 38.52 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 38.52 RCW to read as follows:

(1) A political subdivision with more than 200,000 residents may establish and maintain a civilian-staffed crisis response team operating outside of a general authority Washington law enforcement agency to support the political subdivision's goal of providing a nonlaw enforcement response to individuals in crisis, in need of a safety and welfare check, or a request for resources, whenever such a response is appropriate.