LANSING, Mich., Dec. 2, 2021 — Today, the Michigan House passed a $328.5 million budget supplemental focused on public safety. The supplemental, which uses $197.8 million from the state’s General Fund and $130.8 million from federal funds, allocates needed dollars across a broad range of public safety initiatives. These include funding for first responder and public safety mental health services, community-oriented policing and $10 million for school resource officers, whose primary responsibility is to ensure the physical safety of students in our schools.
The bill also includes $25 million in funding for a new pilot program in Macomb County focused on incarcerated people’s mental health. This funding, a 50% match to the county’s investment in the program, will allow for the building of a new central intake assessment facility. This facility will serve as the center for a new way of doing justice, which includes bringing individuals in need to substance abuse and mental health treatment rather than jail.
“This is a historic investment in a program that will transform how we think about the criminal justice system in Macomb County by focusing on treatment rather than punishment,” said state Rep. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores). “Substance abuse and mental health are major concerns in our community, and I am proud to see this forward-thinking solution put in place for them. I want to thank County Executive Hackel and Sheriff Wickersham for their diligence in working for this funding. I look forward to working with them to bring this needed work to life.”
The bill now heads to the Michigan Senate.
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Contact:
State Rep. Kevin Hertel
kevinhertel@house.mi.gov
(517) 373-1180