wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > HB 1816 > Substitute Bill

HB 1816 - Civilian crisis resp. teams

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Section 1

  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.

  2. The crisis response team is authorized to serve as a primary response to 911 calls when there is no report of active or imminent violence or possession of weapons and when the calls are regarding:

    1. A person in crisis with no request for law enforcement;

    2. A person who appears to need, or is reported to need, a safety and welfare check; or

    3. A request by a member of the public for resources including, but not limited to, shelter, food, or transportation.

  3. For calls not included in subsection (2) of this section, the crisis response team may also serve as a secondary response in support of a law enforcement response as determined by the executive head of the political subdivision.

  4. The crisis response team is authorized to initiate a field response when the team observes an event that meets the criteria in subsection (2) of this section.

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    1. The executive head of an eligible political subdivision will consult with any of the following entities that are active within the political subdivision's jurisdiction to set minimum qualifications for the crisis response team:

      1. The Washington health care authority;

      2. The behavioral health administrative services organization serving the political subdivision's jurisdiction;

      3. The operators of mobile crisis teams administered by the behavioral health administrative services organization; or

      4. The 988 call center hub for the region.

    2. The executive head must solicit input from the entities in (a) of this subsection on the crisis response team's:

      1. Services provided;

      2. Qualifications;

      3. Training;

      4. Types of calls in which primary 911 dispatch is appropriate;

    3. Deployable areas; and

    1. Hours of operation.

    2. Minimum qualifications must include training in scene safety, de-escalation, and interacting with individuals in crisis.

    3. The executive head of the political subdivision may determine the characteristics of the crisis response team including, but not limited to:

      1. The department in which the crisis response team is situated; and

      2. The number of staff assigned to the crisis response team.

  6. The alternative 911 response constituted in this section is deemed a third 911 first responder, parallel to law enforcement and fire response. The wages, hours, and other working conditions of all first responder personnel shall be subject to collective bargaining pursuant to chapter 41.56 RCW. The scope of responsibilities to be responded to by alternative 911 first response shall fall outside of a general authority Washington law enforcement agency and outside of a general authority Washington fire response.

Section 2

The following personal information is exempt from public inspection and copying under this chapter:

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