RCW 71.24.589 Substance use disorders—Law enforcement assisted diversion—Pilot project.

(1) Subject to funds appropriated by the legislature, the authority shall implement a pilot project for law enforcement assisted diversion which shall adhere to law enforcement assisted diversion core principles recognized by the law enforcement assisted diversion national support bureau, the efficacy of which have been demonstrated in peer-reviewed research studies.

(2) Under the pilot project, the authority must partner with the law enforcement assisted diversion national support bureau to award a contract, subject to appropriation, for two or more geographic areas in the state of Washington for law enforcement assisted diversion. Cities, counties, and tribes may compete for participation in a pilot project.

(3) The pilot projects must provide for comprehensive technical assistance from law enforcement assisted diversion implementation experts to develop and implement a law enforcement assisted diversion program in the pilot project's geographic areas in a way that ensures fidelity to the research-based law enforcement assisted diversion model.

(4) The key elements of a law enforcement assisted diversion pilot project must include:

(a) Long-term case management for individuals with substance use disorders;

(b) Facilitation and coordination with community resources focusing on overdose prevention;

(c) Facilitation and coordination with community resources focused on the prevention of infectious disease transmission;

(d) Facilitation and coordination with community resources providing physical and behavioral health services;

(e) Facilitation and coordination with community resources providing medications for the treatment of substance use disorders;

(f) Facilitation and coordination with community resources focusing on housing, employment, and public assistance;

(g) Twenty-four hours per day and seven days per week response to law enforcement for arrest diversions; and

(h) Prosecutorial support for diversion services.

[ 2019 c 314 § 29.]

NOTES:

Declaration—2019 c 314: See note following RCW 18.22.810.