Mental health services bill passes Indiana Senate, moves on to the House

Statehouse — Legislation aimed at increasing mental health services in Indiana is moving ahead.

Senate Bill 1 was unanimously approved by a 49-0 vote Monday and advances to the House.

Authored by Sen. Michael Crider (R-Greenfield), SB 1 would transform the current 988 Crisis Hotline into 988 Response Centers and direct Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration to apply for support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to expand the network of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) in Indiana.

If enacted, SB 1 would create 988 Crisis Response Centers, allowing mobile crisis teams to be dispatched to assist in a severe mental health crisis.

SB 1 also addresses funding and sustainability for CCBHCs, which are designed to ensure access to coordinated comprehensive behavioral health care.

There are currently 19 pilot CCBHC sites in Indiana.