With a unanimous vote, the Senate passed HB 2088 off the floor, moving it one step closer to becoming law.

HB 2088 is a huge step forward in helping cities and other local governments start and maintain alternative response teams. The bill provides safeguards to alternative response teams from civil liability during good-faith performance of their duties. This protection is critical for teams as they serve individuals in volatile situations that may require on-site de-escalation, stabilization, and connection to resources.

AWC appreciates the significant support provided by state lawmakers and city leaders to pass this bill.

The bill will now head to the Governor’s desk for signature.

House passes bill extending liability protections for co-response teams

February 9, 2024

A small amendment helped co-response liability protections get off the House floor with a unanimous vote.

HB 2088 picked up a floor amendment proposed by bill sponsor, Rep. Tina Orwall (D-Des Moines), during floor action last week. The amendment added a “good faith” requirement in order for liability protections to be extended to co-response teams carrying out mental health services.

The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Liability protections for co-response teams moves out of committee

January 31, 2024

On a nearly unanimous vote, the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee passed HB 2088 out of committee before the January 31 cutoff.

The bill is a critical piece of legislation for cities looking to create co-response teams as it provides liability protections to co-responders and first-responders providing mental health services to individuals in crisis. Currently, co-responders do not have liability protections afforded to other first responders causing some co-responders to carry personal liability protections at their own expenses.

While the bill did pass the committee on a 9-1 vote with no amendments, some committee members did state that additional clarification or work may be needed before the bill passes the chamber.

State looks to expand liability protections for co-response crisis teams

January 12, 2024

Teams and individuals dispatched to provide behavioral and mental health services could see expanded liability protections under a new bill.

HB 2088, sponsored by Reps. Tina Orwall (D–Des Moines) and Julia Reed (D–Seattle), would provide liability protections to mental health professionals, crisis response teams, first responders, and local governments providing mental health services to a person experiencing a behavioral health crisis. These protections would also be in place in transporting a person experiencing a behavioral health crisis to behavioral health services, crisis facilities, or other crisis services. Additional protections for mental health professionals are critical as cities and other local governments take on an expanded role in providing mental and behavioral health services in their communities.

These new protections build on current state law passed in 2023 that established liability protections for crisis call center staff and 988 staff.