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H.R. 8639: Mental Health Justice Act of 2020

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H.R. 8639: Mental Health Justice Act of 2020

116th Congress · introduced 2020-10-20 · Health · Latest: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2020-10-20 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-45] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Mental Health Justice Act of 2020

Plain summary

Mental Health Justice Act of 2020 This bill creates a grant program for states and local governments to train and dispatch mental health professionals to respond, instead of law enforcement officers, to emergencies that involve people with behavioral health needs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) must manage the program in consultation with the Department of Justice (DOJ). SAMHSA may cancel grants that increase incarceration or institutionalization. Grantees must use funds for purposes including de-escalation and anti-racism training. The Department of Health and Human Services and the DOJ must evaluate this program.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Mental Health Justice Act of 2020

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-45] · 41 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), André Carson (D-IN), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Judy Chu (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Joseph D. Morelle (D-NY), Doris O. Matsui (D-CA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Bill Foster (D-IL), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Mike Levin (D-CA), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-hr8639 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116