(1) On or before January 1, 2018, all crisis walk-in centers, acute treatment units, and crisis stabilization units within the crisis response system, regardless of facility licensure, must be able to adequately care for an individual brought to the facility through the emergency mental health procedure described in section 27-65-105 or a voluntary application for mental health services pursuant to section 27-65-103. The arrangements for care must be completed through the crisis response system or prearranged partnerships with other crisis intervention services.

(2) On or before January 1, 2018, the state department shall ensure that mobile response units are available to respond to a behavioral health crisis anywhere in the state within no more than two hours, either face-to-face or using telehealth operations, for mobile crisis evaluations.

(3) (a) On or before January 1, 2018, all walk-in centers throughout the state's crisis response system must be appropriately designated by the executive director for a seventy-two-hour treatment and evaluation, adequately prepared, and properly staffed to accept an individual through the emergency mental health procedure outlined in section 27-65-105 or a voluntary application for mental health services pursuant to section 27-65-103. Priority for individuals receiving emergency placement pursuant to section 27-65-105 is on treating high-acuity individuals in the least restrictive environment without the use of law enforcement.

(b) Increasing the ability of walk-in centers to accept individuals through the emergency mental health procedure outlined in section 27-65-105 or a voluntary application for mental health services pursuant to section 27-65-103 may include, but is not limited to, purchasing, installing, and using telehealth operations for mobile crisis evaluations in partnership with hospitals, clinics, law enforcement agencies, and other appropriate service providers.

(4) Rural crisis facilities are encouraged to work collaboratively with other facilities in the region that provide care twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to form local arrangements.

(5) The state department shall encourage crisis response system contractors in each region to develop partnerships with the broad array of crisis intervention services through mobile response units and telehealth-capable walk-in centers in rural communities that offer care twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

(6) The state department shall ensure crisis response system contractors are responsible for community engagement, coordination, and system navigation for key partners, including criminal justice agencies, emergency departments, hospitals, primary care facilities, walk-in centers, and other crisis service facilities. The goals of community coordination are to:

(a) Formalize relationships with partners in the contractually defined regions;

(b) Pursue collaborative programming for behavioral health services, including, when possible, embedding crisis clinicians and consultants in first response systems;

(c) Build close relationships between first responders and dispatch centers and the crisis response system contractor in the region; and

(d) Coordinate behavioral health crises interventions in the community as early as possible to promote diversion from the criminal justice system and continuity of care.

(7) The state department shall explore solutions for addressing secure transportation of individuals placed on a seventy-two-hour treatment and evaluation hold pursuant to article 65 of this title 27.

(8) The state department shall ensure consistent training for professionals who have regular contact with individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis.

(9) The state department shall conduct an assessment of need and capacity of the statewide crisis response system to better understand the state's needs for crisis response and service gaps across the state.