Pennsylvania lawmakers are holding a hearing on how police handle mental health calls.The House Democratic Policy Committee will hear testimony from several people on Thursday, including one from the Susquehanna Valley. Cori Seilhamer is a mental health specialist in Franklin County, where for three years now the county has had a co-responders program. The program features two mental health workers dedicated to four police departments. The officers call on the co-respondents when needed. So far, the mental health professionals have helped on 800 calls and program leaders say 90% of those people have not had another run-in with police.“The fact that they are able to refer individuals to get some more supportive assistance from someone that does know mental health or the human services, and can walk with them and spend some time to get them attached to where they need to be, as opposed to the officers who have continual calls,” Seilhamer said.Right now the co-responders only work 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are funded by taxpayer money through the Franklin County Mental Health Office. Seilhamer would love to have some state funding and expand the co-responders program into every police department.Thursday’s committee meeting is set for 10 a.m. You can watch it online at pahouse.com/live.