# 117-hr-8542: Mental Health Justice Act of 2022

117-hr-8542, Mental Health Justice Act of 2022, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-47] (D-CA); status Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-8542
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-hr-8542
- Congress: 117
- Title: Mental Health Justice Act of 2022
- Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Introduced: 2022-07-27
- Sponsor: Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-47] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Mental Health Justice Act of 2022 This bill creates a grant program for states, tribal entities, 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. The Department of Health and Human Services and DOJ must evaluate this program.

## Votes

| Date | Chamber | Question | Result | Yea | Nay |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2022-09-22T00:00:00.000Z | house | On Passage | Passed | 223 | 206 |

## Related bills

- 117-hr-1667: Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act
- 117-hr-3537: Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act
- 117-hr-3076: Postal Service Reform Act of 2022
- 117-hr-3525: Commission To Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture Act
- 117-hr-521: First Responder Fair RETIRE Act
- 117-hr-263: Big Cat Public Safety Act

## Sources
- [117-hr-8542 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/8542)

## Related
- [117-hr-1667: Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1667)
- [117-hr-3537: Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-3537)
- [117-hr-3076: Postal Service Reform Act of 2022](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-3076)
- [117-hr-3525: Commission To Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacifi…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-3525)
- [117-hr-521: First Responder Fair RETIRE Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-521)
- [117-hr-263: Big Cat Public Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-263)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-8542 (as of 2025-11-18).