In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Center” means the Maryland Behavioral Health and Public Safety Center of Excellence established under § 13–4202 of this subtitle. “Maryland HBCU” means the following historically black colleges and universities: Bowie State University; Coppin State University; Morgan State University; and University of Maryland Eastern Shore. “Racial impact analysis” means a systematic examination of how racial minorities are or will be impacted by existing or proposed models, plans, policies, strategies, programs, processes, or recommendations. “Racial minority” means: Black or African American; Hispanic or Latino; Indigenous, American Indian, or Alaska Native; Asian; or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. “Sequential Intercept Model” means a systems–level framework for criminal justice and behavioral health stakeholders to prevent entrance into the criminal justice system, minimize penetration into the criminal justice system, and engage individuals with behavioral health services and recovery supports as they transition into the community from the criminal justice system.

There is a Maryland Behavioral Health and Public Safety Center of Excellence in the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy. The purposes of the Center are to: Act as the statewide information repository for behavioral health treatment and diversion programs related to the criminal justice system; Lead the development of a strategic plan to increase treatment and reduce the detention of individuals with behavioral health disorders involved in the criminal justice system; Provide technical assistance to local governments for developing effective behavioral health systems of care that prevent and minimize involvement with the criminal justice system for individuals with behavioral health disorders; Facilitate local or regional planning workshops using the Sequential Intercept Model; Coordinate with the Department and the Behavioral Health Administration to implement and track the progress of creating an effective behavioral health system of care in the State relating to individuals involved in the criminal justice system; and Identify and inform any relevant stakeholders of any federal funding available to the Center to carry out the mission of the Center, including through the provision of grants, scholarships, and other funding to recipients engaged in training, the provision of services, or the study of matters relating to behavioral health, public safety, and criminal justice. In carrying out its duties, the Center shall continuously monitor and analyze its models, plans, policies, strategies, programs, technical assistance, and training for their validity and for opportunities to reduce and eliminate disparities in the criminalization of racial minorities with behavioral health disorders and increase access to culturally competent care. The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy shall appoint the following individuals to jointly oversee the Center: A crisis intervention law enforcement coordinator; A mental health coordinator; and Any other individuals determined necessary by the Office. The individuals appointed under paragraph (1) of this subsection may be associated with the Crisis Intervention Team Center of Excellence within the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy. The Center may designate points of contact throughout the State who specialize in behavioral health treatment within the criminal justice system to brief the Center on the progress of statewide implementation of diversion programs. The Center may coordinate with the Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board and other State entities working to reduce State and local detention facility populations and recidivism. The Center may enter into contracts with the University of Maryland System, Maryland HBCUs, or other entities or organizations for the purposes of carrying out its mission. For fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $500,000 for the Center to enter into contracts for the purposes of carrying out its mission, including: Facilitating the gathering of information from all counties in the State; Supporting local or regional planning workshops; and Supporting the purposes of the Center established under subsection (b) of this section. The operation of the Center is subject to the limitations of the State budget.

The activities of the Center shall include: Strategic planning; Technical assistance; State and local government coordination; and Facilitating the provision of train–the–trainer courses for the Sequential Intercept Model for completion in 2021 in partnership with the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, with the goal of training 50 individuals in the State as facilitators. The Center shall provide technical assistance to local governments for the purposes of: Sharing best practices across jurisdictions; Applying for grants to support work related to behavioral health, public safety, or criminal justice; Facilitating the distribution of resources, technical assistance, and training in best practices related to behavioral health, public safety, or criminal justice; and Facilitating local and regional Sequential Intercept Model Summits. The Center shall develop the following: A statewide model for law enforcement–assisted diversion; Recommendations for pretrial services; Procedures for sharing deflection and diversion statistics between relevant State agencies; Recommendations for statewide implementation of law enforcement–assisted diversion programs; and A statewide model for community crisis intervention services other than law enforcement. The Center shall host one State Sequential Intercept Model Summit each year for the purpose of sharing best practices across jurisdictions and tracking the progression of Maryland’s community health and public safety system. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Center apply to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for grant funding to hold subsequent State Sequential Intercept Model Summits annually. The Center shall support county or regional Sequential Intercept Model mapping workshops and summarize results in reports that inform cross–agency planning and program development. The Center shall implement systems and policies that establish a regional approach to community health and public safety, including by: Facilitating multijurisdictional applications for federal behavioral health and criminal justice grants; Coordinating and connecting similar programs across multiple jurisdictions; and Assisting localities in broadening and formalizing county–level collaboration in behavioral health, public safety, and criminal justice.

On or before December 1 each year, beginning in 2022, the Center shall produce and update a multiyear strategic plan to implement the recommendations of the report of the annual State Sequential Intercept Model Summit. The strategic plan shall include: A plan for formal, consistent, appropriate, and coordinated behavioral health screening processes that are properly applied at jail booking, including expanded behavioral health screening for veterans; Recommendations for the coordination of behavioral health and criminal justice initiatives with related State health initiatives; Recommendations for investment in preventive services systems including: Assertive community treatment; Crisis response services; Harm reduction strategies; and Other preventive services for individuals with behavioral health disorders; An expansion of the use of technology and data analysis across the behavioral health, public safety, and criminal justice systems in accordance with the purposes of the Center; A plan for expanding the use of peer support services across intercepts; and A racial impact analysis. In developing the strategic plan, the Center shall consider: Opportunities for the provision of pre–crisis–to–recovery services to individuals with behavioral health disorders who are involved in the criminal justice system; The availability of housing options for individuals with behavioral health disorders who are involved with the criminal justice system; and The availability of transportation for individuals with behavioral health disorders who are involved with the criminal justice system.

Each local jurisdiction in the State shall develop a 2–year community health and public safety plan in collaboration with: The Center; The local health department; The local department of human services; Behavioral health coordinators for the local school system; The local health improvement council; Community–based behavioral health providers; A representative of the NAACP; A representative of public defenders; and Other key stakeholders. The plan shall include: An assessment of the capacity of the local behavioral system; Recommendations for the enhancement of the local crisis response system; Recommendations for the enhancement of the local behavioral health care system, including culturally competent care; An analysis of available federal grant funds available to the county or jurisdiction; and A racial impact analysis. A local jurisdiction is encouraged to use an existing local planning and coordinating committee or local management board to satisfy the requirements of this section.

It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Center, to the extent practicable, identify opportunities to fund: Behavioral health crisis grants; Training for 9–1–1 operators; Peer support services; Behavioral health screenings; Scholarships for students who attend a Maryland HBCU to study behavioral health–, public safety–, or criminal justice–related issues; and Behavioral health initiatives in rural communities.