[House Report 114-786]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
114th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 114-786
======================================================================
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID ACT OF 2016
_______
September 26, 2016.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Upton, from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1877]
The Committee on Energy and Commerce, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 1877) to amend section 520J of the Public Health
Service Act to authorize grants for mental health first aid
training programs, having considered the same, report favorably
thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as
amended do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 2
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Hearings......................................................... 2
Committee Consideration.......................................... 2
Committee Votes.................................................. 3
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 3
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 3
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 3
Earmark, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits....... 3
Committee Cost Estimate.......................................... 3
Congressional Budget Office Estimate............................. 3
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 3
Duplication of Federal Programs.................................. 3
Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings.............................. 4
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 4
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 4
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 4
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 4
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Mental Health First Aid Act of 2016''.
SEC. 2. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING GRANTS.
Section 520J of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-41) is
amended--
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ``mental health
awareness'' before ``training''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Illness'' and inserting ``Health'';
(B) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, veterans, law
enforcement, and other categories of individuals, as
determined by the Secretary,'' after ``emergency
services personnel'';
(C) in paragraph (5)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A),
by striking ``to'' and inserting ``for
evidence-based programs that provide education
to teachers, personnel, and other categories of
individuals described in paragraph (1) on at
least''; and
(ii) by striking subparagraphs (A) through
(C) and inserting the following:
``(A) recognizing the signs and symptoms of mental
illness; and
``(B) either--
``(i) resources available in the community
for individuals with a mental illness and other
relevant resources; or
``(ii) the safe de-escalation of crisis
situations involving individuals with a mental
illness.''; and
(D) in paragraph (7), by striking ``, $25,000,000''
and all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting ``$14,963,000 for each of fiscal years 2017
through 2021.''.
Purpose and Summary
H.R. 1877, the Mental Health First Aid Act of 2016, was
introduced on April 16, 2015, by Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) and
Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA). H.R. 1877 reauthorizes an existing
grant program at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA) that provides for mental health
awareness training grants.
Background and Need for Legislation
The Committee on Energy and Commerce, through the
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, undertook a
yearlong investigation that spanned the 113th and 114th
Congresses that examined the state of our mental health care
system. Programs like mental health first aid are important for
training the public in how to respond to mental health crises,
recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illness, and help
connect individuals with available community resources.
Hearings
The Subcommittee on Health did not hold a hearing on H.R.
1877.
Committee Consideration
On September 12 and 13, 2016, the Subcommittee on Health
met in open markup session and forwarded H.R. 1877 to the full
Committee, as amended, by a voice vote.
On September 20 and 21, 2016, the full Committee on Energy
and Commerce met in open markup session and ordered H.R. 1877
reported to the House, as amended, by a voice vote.
Committee Votes
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires the Committee to list the record votes
on the motion to report legislation and amendments thereto.
There were no record votes taken in connection with ordering
H.R. 1877 reported.
Committee Oversight Findings
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee has not held hearings
on this legislation.
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
This legislation reauthorizes a grant program at SAMSHA for
mental health awareness training programs.
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures
In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee finds that H.R.
1877 would result in no new or increased budget authority,
entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or revenues.
Earmark, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits
In compliance with clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI
of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee
finds that H.R. 1877 contains no earmarks, limited tax
benefits, or limited tariff benefits.
Committee Cost Estimate
The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared
by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. At the
time this report was filed, the estimate was not available.
Congressional Budget Office Estimate
At the time this report was filed, the cost estimate
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office
pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
was not available.
Federal Mandates Statement
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act.
Duplication of Federal Programs
No provision of H.R. 1877 establishes or reauthorizes a
program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of
another Federal program, a program that was included in any
report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress
pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program
related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance.
Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings
The Committee estimates that enacting H.R. 1877
specifically directs to be completed no rule making within the
meaning of 5 U.S.C. 551.
Advisory Committee Statement
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this
legislation.
Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation
Section 1. Short title
This act may be cited as the ``Mental Health First Aid Act
of 2016.''
Section 2. Mental health awareness training grants
Section 2 clarifies that organizations that provide
training to veterans, law enforcement, and other categories of
individuals as determined by the Secretary are explicitly
included as being eligible for participation in these grants.
Additionally, the section ensures that evidence-based programs
are being funded through the grant.
The grant program is reauthorized at its last appropriated
level of $14,963,000 for FY2017 through FY2021.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT
* * * * * * *
TITLE V--SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
* * * * * * *
Part B--Centers and Programs
* * * * * * *
Subpart 3--Center for Mental Health Services
* * * * * * *
SEC. 520J. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING GRANTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants in
accordance with the provisions of this section.
(b) Mental [Illness] Health Awareness Training Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants to
States, political subdivisions of States, Indian
tribes, tribal organizations, and nonprofit private
entities to train teachers and other relevant school
personnel to recognize symptoms of childhood and
adolescent mental disorders, to refer family members to
the appropriate mental health services if necessary, to
train emergency services personnel, veterans, law
enforcement, and other categories of individuals, as
determined by the Secretary, to identify and
appropriately respond to persons with a mental illness,
and to provide education to such teachers and personnel
regarding resources that are available in the community
for individuals with a mental illness.
(2) Emergency Services Personnel.--In this
subsection, the term ``emergency services personnel''
includes paramedics, firefighters, and emergency
medical technicians.
(3) Distribution of Awards.--The Secretary shall
ensure that such grants awarded under this subsection
are equitably distributed among the geographical
regions of the United States and between urban and
rural populations.
(4) Application.--A State, political subdivision of a
State, Indian tribe, tribal organization, or nonprofit
private entity that desires a grant under this
subsection shall submit an application to the Secretary
at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require, including a
plan for the rigorous evaluation of activities that are
carried out with funds received under a grant under
this subsection.
(5) Use of Funds.--A State, political subdivision of
a State, Indian tribe, tribal organization, or
nonprofit private entity receiving a grant under this
subsection shall use funds from such grant [to] for
evidence-based programs that provide education to
teachers, personnel, and other categories of
individuals described in paragraph (1) on at least--
[(A) train teachers and other relevant school
personnel to recognize symptoms of childhood
and adolescent mental disorders and
appropriately respond;
[(B) train emergency services personnel to
identify and appropriately respond to persons
with a mental illness; and
[(C) provide education to such teachers and
personnel regarding resources that are
available in the community for individuals with
a mental illness.]
(A) recognizing the signs and symptoms of
mental illness; and
(B) either--
(i) resources available in the
community for individuals with a mental
illness and other relevant resources;
or
(ii) the safe de-escalation of crisis
situations involving individuals with a
mental illness.
(6) Evaluation.--A State, political subdivision of a
State, Indian tribe, tribal organization, or nonprofit
private entity that receives a grant under this
subsection shall prepare and submit an evaluation to
the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may
reasonably require, including an evaluation of
activities carried out with funds received under the
grant under this subsection and a process and outcome
evaluation.
(7) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
subsection[, $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 and such
sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2002
through 2003.] $14,963,000 for each of fiscal years
2017 through 2021.
* * * * * * *