The proposal, discussed at a committee hearing on Oct. 15, would build on MONSE’s existing work and broaden the city’s response beyond traditional law enforcement. It would also integrate alternative crisis response into Baltimore’s computer-aided dispatch system, so crisis teams could be sent through a process similar to the one used to dispatch police.

Council President Zeke Cohen said the city’s current crisis-response teams do not have enough capacity to respond quickly. He said the average time for a team to arrive and deploy is more than an hour, a delay that can leave people in crisis waiting for help.

The mayor’s office said the proposed system could direct people with non-life-threatening health concerns to 988 when that service is appropriate. The plan is intended to make crisis response more accessible while distinguishing situations that require an emergency response from those better handled by other services.

Cohen cautioned that the new department should not duplicate existing programs and must be financially sustainable. The city expects opioid restitution funds to cover part of its costs, but the full budget, staffing plan and services have not yet been determined.

Baltimore plans to conduct a nationwide search for an executive director and a deputy director. The proposal still requires further steps before a final council vote, and deliberations are continuing.