[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2872 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2872

  To protect individuals by strengthening the Nation's mental health 
infrastructure, improving the understanding of violence, strengthening 
   firearm prohibitions and protections for at-risk individuals, and 
 improving and expanding the reporting of mental health records to the 
           National Instant Criminal Background Check System.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 18, 2014

Mr. Blumenthal introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To protect individuals by strengthening the Nation's mental health 
infrastructure, improving the understanding of violence, strengthening 
   firearm prohibitions and protections for at-risk individuals, and 
 improving and expanding the reporting of mental health records to the 
           National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Healthy Minds for Safer 
Communities Act of 2014''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents of this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
       TITLE I--STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVING INTERVENTION EFFORTS

Sec. 101. Mental health crisis assessment, prevention, and education 
                            grant program.
Sec. 102. School-based mental health programs.
Sec. 103. Justice and mental health collaboration.
               TITLE II--IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH

Sec. 201. Research with respect to violence.
         TITLE III--UNDERSTANDING THE EPIDEMIC OF GUN VIOLENCE

Sec. 301. National violent death reporting system.
Sec. 302. Reaffirming Centers for Disease Control's authority.
Sec. 303. Protecting confidential doctor-patient relationship.
             TITLE IV--MENTAL HEALTH AND ACCESS TO FIREARMS

Sec. 401. Ban on firearm possession by person committed involuntarily 
                            to mental institution on an outpatient 
                            basis.
Sec. 402. Grant program regarding firearms.
Sec. 403. Notification of State and local law enforcement authorities 
                            of attempt to purchase firearm by 
                            ineligible person.
                          TITLE V--RESTORATION

Sec. 501. Federal agency relief program.
Sec. 502. State relief programs.
Sec. 503. General Federal relief.
   TITLE VI--SUBMISSION OF MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS TO NATIONAL INSTANT 
                    CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM

Sec. 601. Reports relating to submission of information to NICS.
Sec. 602. Reauthorization of the National Criminal History Records 
                            Improvement Program.
Sec. 603. Improvement of metrics and incentives.
Sec. 604. Grants to States to improve coordination and automation of 
                            NICS record reporting.
Sec. 605. Sharing of records by Federal departments and agencies with 
                            NICS.
Sec. 606. Rulemaking to permit submission of mental health records to 
                            the National Instant Criminal Background 
                            Check System pursuant to the Health 
                            Insurance Portability and Accountability 
                            Act.

       TITLE I--STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVING INTERVENTION EFFORTS

SEC. 101. MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS ASSESSMENT, PREVENTION, AND EDUCATION 
              GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
        State, political subdivision of a State, or nonprofit private 
        entity.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.
            (3) State.--The term ``State'' means each State of the 
        United States, the District of Columbia, each commonwealth, 
        territory, or possession of the United States, and each 
        federally recognized Indian tribe.
    (b) Establishment of Grant Program.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program 
        to award grants to eligible entities to carry out the 
        activities described in paragraph (2).
            (2) Use of funds.--
                    (A) In general.--Grants awarded under this section 
                may be used to carry out programs that--
                            (i) expand early intervention and treatment 
                        services to improve access to mental health 
                        crisis assistance and address unmet mental 
                        health care needs;
                            (ii) expand the continuum of services to 
                        address crisis intervention and crisis 
                        stabilization;
                            (iii) reduce recidivism due to mental 
                        health crises and mitigate unnecessary 
                        expenditures by local law enforcement; and
                            (iv) reduce unnecessary hospitalizations by 
                        appropriately utilizing community-based 
                        services and improving access to timely mental 
                        health crisis assistance.
                    (B) Authorized activities.--The programs described 
                in subparagraph (A) may include any or all of the 
                following activities:
                            (i) Mental health crisis intervention and 
                        response training for law enforcement (to 
                        increase officers' understanding and 
                        recognition of mental illnesses).
                            (ii) Mobile support that provides field-
                        based behavioral health assistance to law 
                        enforcement and members of the community and 
                        links individuals in crisis to appropriate 
                        services.
                            (iii) School- and community-based early 
                        intervention and prevention programs that 
                        provide mobile response, screening and 
                        assessment, training and education, and peer-
                        based and family services.
            (3) Application.--To be considered for a grant under this 
        section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the 
        Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may require. At minimum, such 
        application shall include a description of--
                    (A) the activities to be funded with the grant;
                    (B) community needs;
                    (C) the population to be served; and
                    (D) the interaction between the activities 
                described in subparagraph (A) and public systems of 
                health and mental health care, law enforcement, social 
                services, and related assistance programs.
            (4) Selecting among applicants.--
                    (A) In general.--Grants shall be awarded to 
                eligible entities on a competitive basis.
                    (B) Selection criteria.--The Secretary shall 
                evaluate applicants based on such criteria as the 
                Secretary determines to be appropriate, including the 
                ability of an applicant to carry out the activities 
                described in paragraph (2).
            (5) Reports.--
                    (A) Annual reports.--
                            (i) Eligible entities.--As a condition of 
                        receiving a grant under this section, an 
                        eligible entity shall agree to submit a report 
                        to the Secretary, on an annual basis, 
                        describing the activities carried out with the 
                        grant and assessing the effectiveness of such 
                        activities.
                            (ii) Secretary.--The Secretary shall, on an 
                        annual basis, and using the reports received 
                        under clause (i), report to Congress on the 
                        overall impact and effectiveness of the grant 
                        program under this section.
                    (B) Final report.--Not later than January 15, 2019, 
                the Secretary shall submit to Congress a final report 
                that includes recommendations with respect to the 
                feasibility and advisability of extending or expanding 
                the grant program.
            (6) Collection of data.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall collect data 
                on the grant program to determine its effectiveness in 
                reducing the social impact of mental health crises and 
                the feasibility and advisability of extending the grant 
                program.
                    (B) Manner of collection.--Data described in 
                subparagraph (A) shall be collected and analyzed using 
                a scientific peer-reviewed system and valid and 
                reliable results-based research methodologies.
    (c) Funding.--
            (1) Grant amount.--The Secretary shall determine the amount 
        of each grant awarded under this section in an amount that is 
        not more than $100,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 
        2019.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019.

SEC. 102. SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS.

    (a) Technical Amendments.--The second part G (relating to services 
provided through religious organizations) of title V of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290kk et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating such part as part J; and
            (2) by redesignating sections 581 through 584 of such part 
        as sections 596 through 596C, respectively.
    (b) School-Based Mental Health and Children and Violence.--Section 
581 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290hh) is amended to 
read as follows:

``SEC. 581. SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH AND CHILDREN AND VIOLENCE.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the 
Secretary of Education and in consultation with the Attorney General, 
shall, directly or through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements 
awarded to public entities and local educational agencies, assist local 
communities and schools in applying a public health approach to mental 
health services both in schools and in the community. Such approach 
should provide comprehensive age-appropriate services and supports, be 
linguistically and culturally appropriate, be trauma-informed, and 
incorporate age-appropriate strategies of positive behavioral 
interventions and supports. A comprehensive school mental health 
program funded under this section shall assist children in dealing with 
trauma and violence.
    ``(b) Activities.--Under the program under subsection (a), the 
Secretary may--
            ``(1) provide financial support to enable local communities 
        to implement a comprehensive culturally and linguistically 
        appropriate, trauma-informed, and age-appropriate, school 
        mental health program that incorporates positive behavioral 
        interventions, client treatment, and supports to foster the 
        health and development of children;
            ``(2) provide technical assistance to local communities 
        with respect to the development of programs described in 
        paragraph (1);
            ``(3) provide assistance to local communities in the 
        development of policies to address child and adolescent trauma 
        and mental health issues and violence when and if it occurs;
            ``(4) facilitate community partnerships among families, 
        students, law enforcement agencies, education systems, mental 
        health and substance use disorder service systems, family-based 
        mental health service systems, welfare agencies, health care 
        service systems (including physicians), faith-based programs, 
        trauma networks, and other community-based systems; and
            ``(5) establish mechanisms for children and adolescents to 
        report incidents of violence or plans by other children, 
        adolescents, or adults to commit violence.
    ``(c) Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--To be eligible for a grant, contract, or 
        cooperative agreement under subsection (a), an entity shall--
                    ``(A) be a partnership between a local educational 
                agency and at least 1 community program or agency that 
                is involved in mental health; and
                    ``(B) submit an application, that is endorsed by 
                all members of the partnership, that contains the 
                assurances described in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Required assurances.--An application under paragraph 
        (1) shall contain assurances as follows:
                    ``(A) That the applicant will ensure that, in 
                carrying out activities under this section, the local 
                educational agency involved will enter into a 
                memorandum of understanding--
                            ``(i) with at least 1 public or private 
                        mental health entity, health care entity, law 
                        enforcement or juvenile justice entity, child 
                        welfare agency, family-based mental health 
                        entity, family or family organization, trauma 
                        network, or other community-based entity; and
                            ``(ii) that clearly states--
                                    ``(I) how school-employed mental 
                                health professionals (such as school 
                                psychologists, school counselors, and 
                                school social workers) will be utilized 
                                in the comprehensive school mental 
                                health program;
                                    ``(II) the responsibilities of each 
                                partner with respect to the activities 
                                to be carried out;
                                    ``(III) how each such partner will 
                                be accountable for carrying out such 
                                responsibilities; and
                                    ``(IV) the amount of non-Federal 
                                funding or in-kind contributions that 
                                each such partner will contribute in 
                                order to sustain the program.
                    ``(B) That the comprehensive school-based mental 
                health program carried out under this section supports 
                the flexible use of funds to address--
                            ``(i) the promotion of the social, 
                        emotional, mental, and behavioral health and 
                        wellness of all students in an environment that 
                        is conducive to learning;
                            ``(ii) the reduction in the likelihood of 
                        at risk students developing social, emotional, 
                        mental, and behavioral health problems, or 
                        substance use disorders;
                            ``(iii) the early identification of social, 
                        emotional, mental, and behavioral problems, or 
                        substance use disorders and the provision of 
                        early intervention services;
                            ``(iv) the treatment or referral for 
                        treatment of students with existing social, 
                        emotional, mental, and behavioral health 
                        problems, or substance use disorders; and
                            ``(v) the development and implementation of 
                        programs to assist children in dealing with 
                        trauma and violence.
                    ``(C) That the comprehensive school-based mental 
                health program carried out under this section will 
                provide for in-service training of all school 
                personnel, including ancillary staff and volunteers, 
                in--
                            ``(i) the techniques and supports needed to 
                        identify early children with trauma histories 
                        and children with, or at risk of, mental 
                        illness;
                            ``(ii) the use of referral mechanisms that 
                        effectively link such children to appropriate 
                        treatment and intervention services in the 
                        school and in the community and to follow-up 
                        when services are not available;
                            ``(iii) strategies that promote the social, 
                        emotional, mental, and behavioral health and 
                        wellness of all students; and
                            ``(iv) strategies to increase the knowledge 
                        and skills of school and community leaders 
                        about the impact of trauma and violence and on 
                        the application of a public health approach to 
                        comprehensive school-based mental health 
                        programs.
                    ``(D) That the comprehensive school-based mental 
                health program carried out under this section will 
                include comprehensive training for parents, siblings, 
                and other family members of children with mental health 
                disorders, and for concerned members of the community 
                in--
                            ``(i) the techniques and supports needed to 
                        identify early children with trauma histories, 
                        and children with, or at risk of, mental 
                        illness;
                            ``(ii) the use of referral mechanisms that 
                        effectively link such children to appropriate 
                        treatment and intervention services in the 
                        school and in the community and follow-up when 
                        such services are not available; and
                            ``(iii) strategies that promote a school-
                        wide positive environment.
                    ``(E) That the comprehensive school-based mental 
                health program carried out under this section will 
                demonstrate the measures to be taken to sustain the 
                program after funding under this section terminates.
                    ``(F) That the local educational agency partnership 
                involved is supported by the State educational and 
                mental health system to ensure that the sustainability 
                of the programs is established after funding under this 
                section terminates.
                    ``(G) That the comprehensive school-based mental 
                health program carried out under this section will be 
                based on trauma-informed and evidence-based practices.
                    ``(H) That the comprehensive school-based mental 
                health program carried out under this section will be 
                coordinated with early intervening activities carried 
                out under the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
                Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.).
                    ``(I) That the comprehensive school-based mental 
                health program carried out under this section will be 
                trauma-informed and culturally and linguistically 
                appropriate.
                    ``(J) That the comprehensive school-based mental 
                health program carried out under this section will 
                include a broad needs assessment of youth who drop out 
                of school due to policies of `zero tolerance' with 
                respect to drugs, alcohol, or weapons and an inability 
                to obtain appropriate services.
                    ``(K) That the mental health services provided 
                through the comprehensive school-based mental health 
                program carried out under this section will be provided 
                by qualified mental and behavioral health professionals 
                who are certified or licensed by the State involved and 
                practicing within their area of expertise.
            ``(3) Coordinator.--Any entity that is a member of a 
        partnership described in paragraph (1)(A) may serve as the 
        coordinator of funding and activities under the grant if all 
        members of the partnership agree.
            ``(4) Compliance with hipaa.--A grantee under this section 
        shall be deemed to be a covered entity for purposes of 
        compliance with the regulations promulgated under section 
        264(c) of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability 
        Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-191; 110 Stat. 2033) with respect 
        to any patient records developed through activities under the 
        grant.
    ``(d) Geographical Distribution.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements under subsection (a) will 
be distributed equitably among the regions of the country and among 
urban and rural areas.
    ``(e) Duration of Awards.--With respect to a grant, contract, or 
cooperative agreement under subsection (a), the period during which 
payments under such an award will be made to the recipient shall be 6 
years. An entity may receive only 1 award under this section, except 
that an entity that is providing services and supports on a regional 
basis may receive additional funding after the expiration of the 
preceding grant period.
    ``(f) Evaluation and Measures of Outcomes.--
            ``(1) Development of process.--The Administrator shall 
        develop a fiscally appropriate process for evaluating 
        activities carried out under this section. Such process shall 
        include--
                    ``(A) the development of guidelines for the 
                submission of program data by grant, contract, or 
                cooperative agreement recipients;
                    ``(B) the development of measures of outcomes (in 
                accordance with paragraph (2)) to be applied by such 
                recipients in evaluating programs carried out under 
                this section; and
                    ``(C) the submission of annual reports by such 
                recipients concerning the effectiveness of programs 
                carried out under this section.
            ``(2) Measures of outcomes.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall develop 
                measures of outcomes to be applied by recipients of 
                assistance under this section, and the Administrator, 
                in evaluating the effectiveness of programs carried out 
                under this section. Such measures shall include student 
                and family measures as provided for in subparagraph (B) 
                and local educational measures as provided for under 
                subparagraph (C).
                    ``(B) Student and family measures of outcomes.--The 
                measures of outcomes developed under paragraph (1)(B) 
                relating to students and families shall, with respect 
                to activities carried out under a program under this 
                section, at a minimum include provisions to evaluate 
                whether the program is effective in--
                            ``(i) improving social, emotional, mental, 
                        and behavioral health and wellness;
                            ``(ii) increasing academic competency (as 
                        defined by the Secretary);
                            ``(iii) reducing disruptive and aggressive 
                        behaviors;
                            ``(iv) improving child functioning;
                            ``(v) reducing substance use disorders;
                            ``(vi) reducing suspensions, truancy, 
                        expulsions, and violence;
                            ``(vii) increasing graduation rates (as 
                        defined in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(vi) of the 
                        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
                        1965); and
                            ``(viii) improving access to care for 
                        mental health disorders.
                    ``(C) Local educational outcomes.--The outcome 
                measures developed under paragraph (1)(B) relating to 
                local educational systems shall, with respect to 
                activities carried out under a program under this 
                section, at a minimum include provisions to evaluate--
                            ``(i) the effectiveness of comprehensive 
                        school mental health programs established under 
                        this section;
                            ``(ii) the effectiveness of formal 
                        partnership linkages among child and family 
                        serving institutions, community support 
                        systems, and the educational system;
                            ``(iii) the progress made in sustaining the 
                        program once funding under the grant has 
                        expired;
                            ``(iv) the effectiveness of training and 
                        professional development programs for all 
                        school personnel that incorporate indicators 
                        that measure cultural and linguistic 
                        competencies under the program in a manner that 
                        incorporates appropriate cultural and 
                        linguistic training;
                            ``(v) the improvement in perception of a 
                        safe and supportive learning environment among 
                        school staff, students, and parents;
                            ``(vi) the improvement in case-finding of 
                        students in need of more intensive services and 
                        referral of identified students to early 
                        intervention and clinical services;
                            ``(vii) the improvement in the immediate 
                        availability of clinical assessment and 
                        treatment services within the context of the 
                        local community to students posing a danger to 
                        themselves or others;
                            ``(viii) the increased successful 
                        matriculation to postsecondary school; and
                            ``(ix) reduced referrals to juvenile 
                        justice.
            ``(3) Submission of annual data.--An entity that receives a 
        grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this section 
        shall annually submit to the Administrator a report that 
        includes data to evaluate the success of the program carried 
        out by the entity based on whether such program is achieving 
        the purposes of the program. Such reports shall utilize the 
        measures of outcomes under paragraph (2) in a reasonable manner 
        to demonstrate the progress of the program in achieving such 
        purposes.
            ``(4) Evaluation by administrator.--Based on the data 
        submitted under paragraph (3), the Administrator shall annually 
        submit to Congress a report concerning the results and 
        effectiveness of the programs carried out with assistance 
        received under this section.
            ``(5) Limitation.--A grantee shall use not to exceed 10 
        percent of amounts received under a grant under this section to 
        carry out evaluation activities under this subsection.
    ``(g) Information and Education.--The Secretary shall establish 
comprehensive information and education programs to disseminate the 
findings of the knowledge development and application under this 
section to the general public and to health care professionals.
    ``(h) Amount of Grants and Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) Amount of grants.--A grant under this section shall 
        be in an amount that is not more than $1,000,000 for each of 
        grant years 2015 through 2019. The Secretary shall determine 
        the amount of each such grant based on the population of 
        children up to age 21 of the area to be served under the grant.
            ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this section, $200,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Part G of title V of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290hh et seq.), as amended by this section, is 
further amended by striking the part heading and inserting the 
following:

                ``PART G--SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH''.

SEC. 103. JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH COLLABORATION.

    (a) Assisting Veterans.--
            (1) Redesignation.--Section 2991 of title I of the Omnibus 
        Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797aa) 
        is amended by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (l).
            (2) Assisting veterans.--Section 2991 of title I of the 
        Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 
        3797aa) is amended by inserting after subsection (h) the 
        following:
    ``(i) Assisting Veterans.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Peer to peer services or programs.--The term 
                `peer to peer services or programs' means services or 
                programs that connect qualified veterans with other 
                veterans for the purpose of providing support and 
                mentorship to assist qualified veterans in obtaining 
                treatment, recovery, stabilization, or rehabilitation.
                    ``(B) Qualified veteran.--The term `qualified 
                veteran' means a preliminarily qualified offender who--
                            ``(i) has served on active duty in any 
                        branch of the Armed Forces, including the 
                        National Guard and reserve components; and
                            ``(ii) was discharged or released from such 
                        service under conditions other than 
                        dishonorable.
                    ``(C) Veterans treatment court program.--The term 
                `veterans treatment court program' means a court 
                program involving collaboration among criminal justice, 
                veterans, and mental health and substance abuse 
                agencies that provides qualified veterans with--
                            ``(i) intensive judicial supervision and 
                        case management, which may include random and 
                        frequent drug testing where appropriate;
                            ``(ii) a full continuum of treatment 
                        services, including mental health services, 
                        substance abuse services, medical services, and 
                        services to address trauma;
                            ``(iii) alternatives to incarceration; or
                            ``(iv) other appropriate services, which 
                        may include housing, transportation, mentoring, 
                        employment, job training, education, and 
                        assistance in applying for and obtaining 
                        available benefits.
            ``(2) Veterans assistance program.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Attorney General, in 
                consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
                may award grants under this subsection to applicants to 
                establish or expand--
                            ``(i) veterans treatment court programs;
                            ``(ii) peer to peer services or programs 
                        for qualified veterans;
                            ``(iii) practices that identify and provide 
                        treatment, rehabilitation, legal, transitional, 
                        and other appropriate services to qualified 
                        veterans who have been incarcerated; and
                            ``(iv) training programs to teach criminal 
                        justice, law enforcement, corrections, mental 
                        health, and substance abuse personnel how to 
                        identify and appropriately respond to incidents 
                        involving qualified veterans.
                    ``(B) Priority.--In awarding grants under this 
                subsection, the Attorney General shall give priority to 
                applications that--
                            ``(i) demonstrate collaboration between and 
                        joint investments by criminal justice, mental 
                        health, substance abuse, and veterans service 
                        agencies;
                            ``(ii) promote effective strategies to 
                        identify and reduce the risk of harm to 
                        qualified veterans and public safety; and
                            ``(iii) propose interventions with 
                        empirical support to improve outcomes for 
                        qualified veterans.''.
    (b) Correctional Facilities.--Section 2991 of title I of the 
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797aa) 
is amended by inserting after subsection (i), as added by subsection 
(a), the following:
    ``(j) Correctional Facilities.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Correctional facility.--The term 
                `correctional facility' means a jail, prison, or other 
                detention facility used to house people who have been 
                arrested, detained, held, or convicted by a criminal 
                justice agency or a court.
                    ``(B) Eligible inmate.--The term `eligible inmate' 
                means an individual who--
                            ``(i) is being held, detained, or 
                        incarcerated in a correctional facility; and
                            ``(ii) manifests obvious signs of a mental 
                        illness or has been diagnosed by a qualified 
                        mental health professional as having a mental 
                        illness.
            ``(2) Correctional facility grants.--The Attorney General 
        may award grants to applicants to enhance the capabilities of a 
        correctional facility--
                    ``(A) to identify and screen for eligible inmates;
                    ``(B) to plan and provide--
                            ``(i) initial and periodic assessments of 
                        the clinical, medical, and social needs of 
                        inmates; and
                            ``(ii) appropriate treatment and services 
                        that address the mental health and substance 
                        abuse needs of inmates;
                    ``(C) to develop, implement, and enhance--
                            ``(i) post-release transition plans for 
                        eligible inmates that, in a comprehensive 
                        manner, coordinate health, housing, medical, 
                        employment, and other appropriate services and 
                        public benefits;
                            ``(ii) the availability of mental health 
                        care services and substance abuse treatment 
                        services; and
                            ``(iii) alternatives to solitary 
                        confinement and segregated housing and mental 
                        health screening and treatment for inmates 
                        placed in solitary confinement or segregated 
                        housing; and
                    ``(D) to train each employee of the correctional 
                facility to identify and appropriately respond to 
                incidents involving inmates with mental health or co-
                occurring mental health and substance abuse 
                disorders.''.
    (c) High Utilizers.--Section 2991 of title I of the Omnibus Crime 
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797aa) is amended by 
inserting after subsection (j), as added by subsection (b), the 
following:
    ``(k) Demonstration Grants Responding to High Utilizers.--
            ``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `high 
        utilizer' means an individual who--
                    ``(A) manifests obvious signs of mental illness or 
                has been diagnosed by a qualified mental health 
                professional as having a mental illness; and
                    ``(B) consumes a significantly disproportionate 
                quantity of public resources, such as emergency, 
                housing, judicial, corrections, and law enforcement 
                services.
            ``(2) Demonstration grants responding to high utilizers.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Attorney General may award 
                not more than 6 grants per year under this subsection 
                to applicants for the purpose of reducing the use of 
                public services by high utilizers.
                    ``(B) Use of grants.--A recipient of a grant 
                awarded under this subsection may use the grant--
                            ``(i) to develop or support 
                        multidisciplinary teams that coordinate, 
                        implement, and administer community-based 
                        crisis responses and long-term plans for high 
                        utilizers;
                            ``(ii) to provide training on how to 
                        respond appropriately to the unique issues 
                        involving high utilizers for public service 
                        personnel, including criminal justice, mental 
                        health, substance abuse, emergency room, 
                        healthcare, law enforcement, corrections, and 
                        housing personnel;
                            ``(iii) to develop or support alternatives 
                        to hospital and jail admissions for high 
                        utilizers that provide treatment, 
                        stabilization, and other appropriate supports 
                        in the least restrictive, yet appropriate, 
                        environment; or
                            ``(iv) to develop protocols and systems 
                        among law enforcement, mental health, substance 
                        abuse, housing, corrections, and emergency 
                        medical service operations to provide 
                        coordinated assistance to high utilizers.
                    ``(C) Report.--Not later than the last day of the 
                first year following the fiscal year in which a grant 
                is awarded under this subsection, the recipient of the 
                grant shall submit to the Attorney General a report 
                that--
                            ``(i) measures the performance of the grant 
                        recipient in reducing the use of public 
                        services by high utilizers; and
                            ``(ii) provides a model set of practices, 
                        systems, or procedures that other jurisdictions 
                        may adopt to reduce the use of public services 
                        by high utilizers.''.
    (d) Academy Training.--Section 2991(h) of title I of the Omnibus 
Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797aa(h)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) Academy training.--To provide support for 
                academy curricula, law enforcement officer orientation 
                programs, continuing education training, and other 
                programs that teach law enforcement personnel how to 
                identify and respond to incidents involving individuals 
                with mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and 
                substance abuse disorders.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Priority consideration.--The Attorney General, in 
        awarding grants under this subsection, shall give priority to 
        programs that law enforcement personnel and members of the 
        mental health and substance abuse professions develop and 
        administer cooperatively.''.
    (e) Evidence Based Practices.--Section 2991(c) of title I of the 
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 
3797aa(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (6); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
            ``(4) propose interventions that have been shown by 
        empirical evidence to reduce recidivism;
            ``(5) when appropriate, use validated assessment tools to 
        target preliminarily qualified offenders with a moderate or 
        high risk of recidivism and a need for treatment and services; 
        or''.
    (f) Safe Communities.--
            (1) In general.--Section 2991(a) of title I of the Omnibus 
        Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 
        3797aa(a)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking paragraphs (8) and (9) and 
                inserting the following:
            ``(8) Preliminarily qualified offender.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `preliminarily 
                qualified offender' means an adult or juvenile accused 
                of an offense who--
                            ``(i)(I) at any time, has been diagnosed by 
                        a qualified mental health professional as 
                        having a mental illness or co-occurring mental 
                        illness and substance abuse disorders;
                            ``(II) manifests obvious signs of mental 
                        illness or co-occurring mental illness and 
                        substance abuse disorders during arrest or 
                        confinement or before any court; or
                            ``(III) for purposes of a veterans 
                        treatment court program, as defined under 
                        subsection (i), has been diagnosed with, or 
                        manifests obvious signs of, mental illness or a 
                        substance abuse disorder or co-occurring mental 
                        illness and substance abuse disorder; and
                            ``(ii) has been unanimously approved for 
                        participation in a program funded under this 
                        section by, when appropriate, the relevant--
                                    ``(I) prosecuting attorney;
                                    ``(II) defense attorney;
                                    ``(III) probation or corrections 
                                official;
                                    ``(IV) judge; and
                                    ``(V) representative from the 
                                relevant mental health agency described 
                                in subsection (b)(5)(B)(i).
                    ``(B) Determination.--In determining whether to 
                designate an individual as a preliminarily qualified 
                offender, the relevant prosecuting attorney, defense 
                attorney, probation or corrections official, judge, and 
                mental health or substance abuse agency representative 
                shall take into account--
                            ``(i) whether the participation of the 
                        individual in the program would pose a 
                        substantial risk of violence to the community;
                            ``(ii) the criminal history of the 
                        individual and the nature and severity of the 
                        offense for which the individual is charged;
                            ``(iii) the views of any relevant victims 
                        to the offense;
                            ``(iv) the extent to which the individual 
                        would benefit from participation in the program 
                        carried out using a grant under this section;
                            ``(v) the extent to which the community 
                        would realize cost savings because of the 
                        individual's participation in the program; and
                            ``(vi) whether the individual satisfies the 
                        eligibility criteria for program participation 
                        unanimously established by the relevant 
                        prosecuting attorney, defense attorney, 
                        probation or corrections official, judge and 
                        mental health or substance abuse agency 
                        representative.''; and
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (10) and (11) as 
                paragraphs (9) and (10), respectively.
            (2) Technical and conforming amendment.--Section 2927(2) of 
        title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 
        1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797s-6(2)) is amended by striking ``has the 
        meaning given that term in section 2991(a).'' and inserting 
        ``means an offense that--
                    ``(A) does not have as an element the use, 
                attempted use, or threatened use of physical force 
                against the person or property of another; or
                    ``(B) is not a felony that by its nature involves a 
                substantial risk that physical force against the person 
                or property of another may be used in the course of 
                committing the offense.''.
    (g) Reauthorization of Appropriations.--Subsection (l) of section 
2991 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 
1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797aa), as redesignated in subsection (a)(1), is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(D) $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 
        2019.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(3) Limitation.--Not more than 20 percent of the funds authorized 
to be appropriated under this subsection may be used for purposes 
described in subsection (i) (relating to veterans).''.

               TITLE II--IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH

SEC. 201. RESEARCH WITH RESPECT TO VIOLENCE.

    The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with 
the Director of the National Institutes of Health, shall expand and 
intensify research on self-directed and other-directed violence 
associated with mental illness.

         TITLE III--UNDERSTANDING THE EPIDEMIC OF GUN VIOLENCE

SEC. 301. NATIONAL VIOLENT DEATH REPORTING SYSTEM.

    The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the 
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall 
improve the National Violent Death Reporting System, authorized 
pursuant to title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241 
et seq.), particularly through the expansion of the application of such 
system to include the 50 States. Participation in the system by the 
States shall be voluntary.

SEC. 302. REAFFIRMING CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL'S AUTHORITY.

    (a) In General.--Section 391 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 280b) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``research relating 
        to the causes, mechanisms, prevention, diagnosis, treatment of 
        injuries, and rehabilitation from injuries;'' and inserting 
        ``research, including data collection, relating to--
            ``(A) the causes, mechanisms, prevention, diagnosis, and 
        treatment of injuries, including with respect to gun violence; 
        and
            ``(B) rehabilitation from such injuries;''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) No Advocacy or Promotion of Gun Control.--Nothing in this 
section shall be construed to--
            ``(1) authorize the Secretary to give assistance, make 
        grants, or enter into cooperative agreements or contracts for 
        the purpose of advocating or promoting gun control; or
            ``(2) permit a recipient of any assistance, grant, 
        cooperative agreement, or contract under this section to use 
        such assistance, grant, agreement, or contract for the purpose 
        of advocating or promoting gun control.''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 394A of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280b-3) is amended by striking 
``authorized to be appropriated'' and all that follows through the end 
and inserting the following: ``authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019.''.

SEC. 303. PROTECTING CONFIDENTIAL DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP.

    Section 2717(c) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg-
17(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) Rule of construction.--Notwithstanding the previous 
        provisions of this subsection, none of the authorities provided 
        to the Secretary under this subsection, Public Law 111-148, or 
        an amendment made by such Public Law shall be construed to 
        prohibit a physician or other health care provider from--
                    ``(A) asking a patient about the ownership, 
                possession, use, or storage of a firearm or ammunition 
                in the home of such patient;
                    ``(B) speaking to a patient about gun safety; or
                    ``(C) reporting to the authorities a patient's 
                threat of violence.''.

             TITLE IV--MENTAL HEALTH AND ACCESS TO FIREARMS

SEC. 401. BAN ON FIREARM POSSESSION BY PERSON COMMITTED INVOLUNTARILY 
              TO MENTAL INSTITUTION ON AN OUTPATIENT BASIS.

    Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (d)(4), by inserting ``on an involuntary 
        inpatient or involuntary outpatient basis'' before the 
        semicolon; and
            (2) in subsection (g)(4), by inserting ``on an involuntary 
        inpatient or involuntary outpatient basis'' before the 
        semicolon.

SEC. 402. GRANT PROGRAM REGARDING FIREARMS.

    Section 506(b) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 
1968 (42 U.S.C. 3756(b)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
        subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and adjusting the 
        margins accordingly;
            (2) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), as 
        redesignated, by striking ``to 1 or more States or units of 
        local government'' and all that follows and inserting the 
        following: ``to--
            ``(1) 1 or more States or units of local government, for 1 
        or more of the purposes specified in section 501, if the 
        Attorney General determines that providing such funds is 
        necessary--'';
            (3) in paragraph (1), as designated, by striking the period 
        at the end and inserting ``; or''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) 1 or more States, if each such State has 
        demonstrated, in the determination of the Attorney General, 
        that the State has adopted policies, procedures, protocols, 
        laws, or regulations pertaining to the possession or transfer 
        of firearms or ammunition that--
                    ``(A)(i) give State and local law enforcement 
                officers the authority, to the extent allowable under 
                Federal laws and the United States Constitution, to 
                seize firearms or ammunition from an individual 
                pursuant to a warrant, if there is probable cause to 
                believe that the individual poses an elevated risk of 
                harm to himself or herself or to another individual, 
                which may be determined by considering whether the 
                individual--
                            ``(I) has caused harm to himself or herself 
                        or to another individual;
                            ``(II) has detailed plans to cause harm to 
                        himself or herself or to another individual;
                            ``(III) has a history of substance abuse; 
                        or
                            ``(IV) lacks impulse control; and
                    ``(ii) provide that not later than 14 days after a 
                seizure of firearms or ammunition from an individual as 
                described in subparagraph (A)--
                            ``(I) the individual shall be given an 
                        opportunity to contest the seizure in court; 
                        and
                            ``(II) any firearm or ammunition seized 
                        shall be returned to the individual unless a 
                        State or local law enforcement officer 
                        demonstrates in court by a preponderance of the 
                        evidence that the individual poses an elevated 
                        risk of harm to himself or herself or to 
                        another individual; or
                    ``(B) temporarily prohibit an individual who has 
                been involuntarily hospitalized for a period of not 
                less than 48 hours for mental illness on an emergency 
                basis from possessing a firearm or ammunition;''.

SEC. 403. NOTIFICATION OF STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES 
              OF ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE FIREARM BY INELIGIBLE PERSON.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section--
            (1) the term ``National Instant Criminal Background Check 
        System'' means the National Instant Criminal Background Check 
        System established under section 103 of the Brady Handgun 
        Violence Prevention Act (18 U.S.C. 922 note); and
            (2) the terms ``firearm'' and ``licensed dealer'' have the 
        meanings given those terms in section 921(a) of title 18, 
        United States Code.
    (b) Establishment of Notification System.--The Attorney General 
shall establish a system for the prompt notification of the relevant 
State and local enforcement agencies when the National Instant Criminal 
Background Check System notifies a licensed dealer that the information 
available to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System 
indicates that the possession of a firearm by an individual attempting 
to obtain a firearm from the licensed dealer would violate subsection 
(g) or (n) of section 922 of title 18, United States Code, or State 
law, except when the Attorney General determines, on a case-by-case 
basis, that law enforcement purposes would best be served by not 
providing such a notice.

                          TITLE V--RESTORATION

SEC. 501. FEDERAL AGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM.

    Section 101(c)(2)(A) of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 
(18 U.S.C. 922 note) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses 
        (iii) and (iv), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after clause (i) the following:
                            ``(ii) Adjudication of applications.--A 
                        Federal department or agency that makes an 
                        adjudication related to the mental health of a 
                        person or imposes a commitment of a person to a 
                        mental institution, as described in subsection 
                        (d)(4) or (g)(4) of section 922 of title 18, 
                        United States Code, shall grant the person 
                        relief from the disability imposed by such 
                        subsection only if--
                                    ``(I) not earlier than 1 year after 
                                the date on which the person is first 
                                subject to the disability, the person 
                                submits to the department or agency--
                                            ``(aa) an application for 
                                        relief from the disability; and
                                            ``(bb) the opinion (and 
                                        records and information 
                                        supporting the opinion) of a 
                                        psychiatrist or licensed 
                                        clinical psychologist who has 
                                        personally evaluated the 
                                        person, which attests that--

                                                    ``(AA) the person 
                                                no longer manifests the 
                                                symptoms of mental 
                                                disorder that resulted 
                                                in the adjudication of 
                                                the person as a mental 
                                                defective or 
                                                involuntary commitment 
                                                of the person;

                                                    ``(BB) the person 
                                                appears to have adhered 
                                                consistently to any 
                                                prescribed treatment 
                                                for a substantial 
                                                period of time 
                                                preceding the date of 
                                                the application; and

                                                    ``(CC) if ongoing 
                                                treatment is required, 
                                                adherence to that 
                                                treatment is likely to 
                                                minimize the risk that 
                                                the person will revert 
                                                to a mental state that 
                                                would present a danger 
                                                to the person or to 
                                                others;

                                    ``(II) the department or agency has 
                                the opportunity to request an 
                                additional evaluation of the person by 
                                a psychiatrist or licensed clinical 
                                psychologist appointed by the 
                                department or agency; and
                                    ``(III) the department or agency 
                                determines by a preponderance of the 
                                evidence received that--
                                            ``(aa) the person no longer 
                                        manifests the symptoms of 
                                        mental disorder that resulted 
                                        in that person's adjudication 
                                        as a mental defective or 
                                        involuntary commitment or that 
                                        otherwise significantly elevate 
                                        the risk of harm to self or 
                                        others;
                                            ``(bb) the person--

                                                    ``(AA) appears to 
                                                have consistently 
                                                adhered to any 
                                                prescribed treatment 
                                                for a substantial 
                                                period of time 
                                                preceding the date of 
                                                the application; and

                                                    ``(BB) has 
                                                expressed a willingness 
                                                to continue treatment 
                                                under an appropriate 
                                                mental health 
                                                professional;

                                            ``(cc) if ongoing treatment 
                                        is required, adherence to that 
                                        treatment is likely to minimize 
                                        the risk that the person will 
                                        revert to a mental state that 
                                        would present a danger to the 
                                        person or to others; and
                                            ``(dd) the granting of the 
                                        relief would not be contrary to 
                                        the public interest.''.

SEC. 502. STATE RELIEF PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--Section 105 of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act 
of 2007 (18 U.S.C. 922 note) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (2) and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(2) provides that, not earlier than 1 year after the date 
        on which a person is first adjudicated or committed as 
        described in subsection (g)(4) of section 922 of title 18, 
        United States Code, a State court, board, commission, or other 
        lawful authority shall grant the relief, pursuant to State law 
        and in accordance with the principles of due process, only if--
                    ``(A) the person submits with the application for 
                relief under paragraph (1) the opinion (and records and 
                information supporting the opinion) of a psychiatrist 
                or licensed clinical psychologist who has personally 
                evaluated the person, which attests that--
                            ``(i) the person no longer manifests the 
                        symptoms of mental disorder that resulted in 
                        the adjudication of the person as a mental 
                        defective or involuntary commitment of the 
                        person;
                            ``(ii) the person appears to have adhered 
                        consistently to any prescribed treatment for a 
                        substantial period of time preceding the date 
                        of the application; and
                            ``(iii) if ongoing treatment is required, 
                        adherence to that treatment is likely to 
                        minimize the risk that the person will revert 
                        to a mental state that would present a danger 
                        to the person or to others;
                    ``(B) the State has the opportunity to request an 
                additional evaluation of the person by a psychiatrist 
                or licensed clinical psychologist appointed by the 
                court, board, commission, or other lawful authority; 
                and
                    ``(C) the court, board, commission, or other lawful 
                authority determines by a preponderance of the evidence 
                received that--
                            ``(i) the person no longer manifests the 
                        symptoms of mental disorder that resulted in 
                        the adjudication of the person as a mental 
                        defective or involuntary commitment of the 
                        person;
                            ``(ii) the person--
                                    ``(I) appears to have consistently 
                                adhered to any prescribed treatment for 
                                a substantial period of time preceding 
                                the date of the application; and
                                    ``(II) has expressed a willingness 
                                to continue treatment under an 
                                appropriate mental health professional;
                            ``(iii) if ongoing treatment is required, 
                        adherence to that treatment is likely to 
                        minimize the risk that the person will revert 
                        to a mental state that would present a danger 
                        to the person or to others; and
                            ``(iv) the granting of the relief would not 
                        be contrary to the public interest; and''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Definitions.--The Attorney General may, by regulation, define 
a term used in this section to ensure conformity with Federal programs 
providing relief from disabilities imposed under subsections (d) and 
(g) of section 922 of title 18, United States Code.''.
    (b) Transition Rule.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply only beginning on the date that is 5 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, in the case of any State that has a program 
described in section 105 of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 
(18 U.S.C. 922 note) in effect on the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 503. GENERAL FEDERAL RELIEF.

    Section 925(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(c) A person'' and inserting ``(c)(1) 
        Except as provided in paragraph (2), a person''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(2) A person who is subject to a disability imposed under 
subsection (d)(4) or (g)(4) of section 922 may not receive relief under 
this subsection unless--
            ``(A) the person submits an application to the Attorney 
        General for relief from the disability not earlier than 1 year 
        after the date on which the person is first subject to the 
        disability;
            ``(B) the person submits, with the application for relief, 
        the opinion (and records and information supporting the 
        opinion) of a psychiatrist or licensed clinical psychologist 
        who has personally evaluated the person, which attests that--
                    ``(i) the person no longer manifests the symptoms 
                of mental disorder that resulted in the adjudication of 
                the person as a mental defective or involuntary 
                commitment of the person;
                    ``(ii) the person appears to have adhered 
                consistently to any prescribed treatment for a 
                substantial period of time preceding the date of the 
                application; and
                    ``(iii) if ongoing treatment is required, adherence 
                to that treatment is likely to minimize the risk that 
                the person will revert to a mental state that would 
                present a danger to the person or to others;
            ``(C) the Attorney General has the opportunity to request 
        an additional evaluation by a psychiatrist or licensed clinical 
        psychologist appointed by the court; and
            ``(D) the Attorney General determines by a preponderance of 
        the evidence received that--
                    ``(i) the person no longer manifests the symptoms 
                of mental disorder that resulted in the adjudication of 
                the person as a mental defective or involuntary 
                commitment of the person;
                    ``(ii) the person--
                            ``(I) appears to have adhered consistently 
                        to any prescribed treatment for a substantial 
                        period of time preceding the date of the 
                        application; and
                            ``(II) has expressed a willingness to 
                        continue treatment under an appropriate mental 
                        health professional;
                    ``(iii) if ongoing treatment is required, adherence 
                to that treatment is likely to minimize the risk that 
                the person will revert to a mental state that would 
                present a danger to the person or to others; and
                    ``(iv) the granting of the relief would not be 
                contrary to the public interest.''.

   TITLE VI--SUBMISSION OF MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS TO NATIONAL INSTANT 
                    CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM

SEC. 601. REPORTS RELATING TO SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION TO NICS.

    Section 201 of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 (18 
U.S.C. 922 note) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Report on Persons Prohibited From Obtaining Firearms as a 
Result of a Conviction of a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence.--
Not later than January 31 of each year, the Director shall submit to 
Congress a report containing the number of persons reported by each 
State to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System under 
section 102(b) who are prohibited from possessing or receiving a 
firearm under section 922(g)(9) of title 18, United States Code.'';
            (2) by redesignating subsection (d) as (e); and
            (3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Report on Promising Practices.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of the Promoting Healthy Minds for Safer 
        Communities Act of 2014, and annually thereafter, the Director 
        shall submit to Congress and to each State participating in the 
        National Criminal History Improvement Program, a report of the 
        practices of the States that the Director considers to be 
        promising practices.
            ``(2) Promising practice defined.--For purposes of this 
        subsection, the term `promising practice' means a program, 
        activity, or strategy of a State regarding the collection, 
        maintenance, automation, and transmittal by the State or any 
        State agency of information relevant to determining whether a 
        person is prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm by 
        Federal or State law, or any other records relevant to the 
        National Instant Criminal Background Check System, that the 
        Director determines--
                    ``(A) has been used by a State or any State agency 
                to successfully increase or expand its ability to 
                collect, maintain, automate, and transmit the 
                information described in the matter preceding this 
                subparagraph;
                    ``(B) shows promise in its early stages of becoming 
                a best practice under subsection (c), with long-term 
                sustainable impact; and
                    ``(C) may be replicated by other States or State 
                agencies.''.

SEC. 602. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE NATIONAL CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS 
              IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

    Section 106(b) of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (18 
U.S.C. 922 note) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph 
        (A), by striking ``this Act'' and inserting ``the Promoting 
        Healthy Minds for Safer Communities Act of 2014''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``a total of'' and all 
        that follows and inserting the following: ``$100,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2015 through 2018.''.

SEC. 603. IMPROVEMENT OF METRICS AND INCENTIVES.

    Section 102(b) of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 (18 
U.S.C. 922 note) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Implementation Plan.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Promoting Healthy Minds for Safer Communities 
        Act of 2014, the Attorney General, in coordination with the 
        States, shall establish for each State or Indian tribal 
        government desiring a grant under section 103 a 4-year 
        implementation plan to ensure maximum coordination and 
        automation of the reporting of records or making records 
        available to the National Instant Criminal Background Check 
        System.
            ``(2) Benchmark requirements.--Each 4-year plan established 
        under paragraph (1) shall include annual benchmarks, including 
        both qualitative goals and quantitative measures, to assess the 
        implementation of the 4-year plan.
            ``(3) Penalties for non-compliance.--
                    ``(A) In general.--During the 4-year period covered 
                by a 4-year plan established under paragraph (1), the 
                Attorney General shall withhold--
                            ``(i) 10 percent of the amount that would 
                        otherwise be allocated to a State under section 
                        505 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 
                        Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3755) if the 
                        State does not meet the benchmark established 
                        under paragraph (2) for the first year in the 
                        4-year period;
                            ``(ii) 11 percent of the amount that would 
                        otherwise be allocated to a State under section 
                        505 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 
                        Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3755) if the 
                        State does not meet the benchmark established 
                        under paragraph (2) for the second year in the 
                        4-year period;
                            ``(iii) 13 percent of the amount that would 
                        otherwise be allocated to a State under section 
                        505 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 
                        Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3755) if the 
                        State does not meet the benchmark established 
                        under paragraph (2) for the third year in the 
                        4-year period; and
                            ``(iv) 15 percent of the amount that would 
                        otherwise be allocated to a State under section 
                        505 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe 
                        Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3755) if the 
                        State does not meet the benchmark established 
                        under paragraph (2) for the fourth year in the 
                        4-year period.
                    ``(B) Failure to establish a plan.--A State that 
                fails to establish a plan under paragraph (1) shall be 
                treated as having not met any benchmark established 
                under paragraph (2).''.

SEC. 604. GRANTS TO STATES TO IMPROVE COORDINATION AND AUTOMATION OF 
              NICS RECORD REPORTING.

    (a) In General.--The NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 (18 
U.S.C. 922 note) is amended--
            (1) by striking section 103 and inserting the following:

``SEC. 103. GRANTS TO STATES FOR IMPROVEMENT OF COORDINATION AND 
              AUTOMATION OF NICS RECORD REPORTING.

    ``(a) Authorization.--From amounts made available to carry out this 
section, the Attorney General shall make grants to States, Indian 
tribal governments, and State court systems, in a manner consistent 
with the National Criminal History Improvement Program and consistent 
with State plans for integration, automation, and accessibility of 
criminal history records, for use by the State or units of local 
government of the State, Indian tribal government, or State court 
system to improve the automation and transmittal of mental health 
records and criminal history dispositions, records relevant to 
determining whether a person has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime 
of domestic violence, court orders, and mental health adjudications or 
commitments to Federal and State record repositories in accordance with 
section 102 and the National Criminal History Improvement Program.
    ``(b) Use of Grant Amounts.--A grant awarded to a State, Indian 
tribal government, or State court system under this section may only be 
used to--
            ``(1) carry out, as necessary, assessments of the 
        capabilities of the courts of the State or Indian tribal 
        government for the automation and transmittal of arrest and 
        conviction records, court orders, and mental health 
        adjudications or commitments to Federal and State record 
        repositories;
            ``(2) implement policies, systems, and procedures for the 
        automation and transmittal of arrest and conviction records, 
        court orders, and mental health adjudications or commitments to 
        Federal and State record repositories;
            ``(3) create electronic systems that provide accurate and 
        up-to-date information that is directly related to checks under 
        the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, 
        including court disposition and corrections records;
            ``(4) assist the State or Indian tribal government in 
        establishing or enhancing its own capacity to perform 
        background checks using the National Instant Criminal 
        Background Check System; and
            ``(5) develop and maintain the relief from disabilities 
        program in accordance with section 105.
    ``(c) Eligibility.--
            ``(1) In general.--To be eligible for a grant under this 
        section, a State, Indian tribal government, or State court 
        system shall certify, to the satisfaction of the Attorney 
        General, that the State, Indian tribal government, or State 
        court system--
                    ``(A) is not prohibited by State law or court order 
                from submitting mental health records to the National 
                Instant Criminal Background Check System; and
                    ``(B) subject to paragraph (2), has implemented a 
                relief from disabilities program in accordance with 
                section 105.
            ``(2) Relief from disabilities program.--For purposes of 
        obtaining a grant under this section, a State, Indian tribal 
        government, or State court system shall not be required to meet 
        the eligibility requirement described in paragraph (1)(B) until 
        the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of the 
        Promoting Healthy Minds for Safer Communities Act of 2014.
    ``(d) Federal Share.--
            ``(1) Studies, assessments, non-material activities.--The 
        Federal share of a study, assessment, creation of a task force, 
        or other non-material activity, as determined by the Attorney 
        General, carried out with a grant under this section shall be 
        not more than 25 percent.
            ``(2) Infrastructure or system development.--The Federal 
        share of an activity involving infrastructure or system 
        development, including labor-related costs, for the purpose of 
        improving State or Indian Tribal government record reporting to 
        the National Instant Criminal Background Check System carried 
        out with a grant under this section may amount to 100 percent 
        of the cost of the activity.
    ``(e) Grants to Indian Tribes.--Not more than 5 percent of the 
amounts made available under this section may be reserved for Indian 
tribal governments for use by Indian tribal judicial systems.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2015 through 2018.'';
            (2) by striking title III; and
            (3) in section 401(b), by inserting after ``of this Act'' 
        the following: ``, and not later than 18 months after the date 
        of enactment of the Promoting Healthy Minds for Safer 
        Communities Act of 2014''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections in 
section 1(b) of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 (18 U.S.C. 
922 note) is amended--
            (1) by striking the item relating to section 103 and 
        inserting the following:

``Sec. 103. Grants to States for improvement of coordination and 
                            automation of NICS record reporting.'';
            (2) by striking the item relating to title III; and
            (3) by striking the item relating to section 301.

SEC. 605. SHARING OF RECORDS BY FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES WITH 
              NICS.

    Section 101(b) of the NICS Improvement Act of 2007 (18 U.S.C. 922 
note) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by inserting at the end the following:
                    ``(D) not later than 180 days after the date of 
                enactment of the Promoting Healthy Minds for Safer 
                Communities Act of 2014, and annually thereafter, 
                submit a report to Congress on the compliance of the 
                head of each department or agency of the Federal 
                Government with the requirements under paragraphs (1) 
                and (3).''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Other federal departments and agencies.--The head of 
        each department or agency of the Federal Government that is in 
        possession of a record that is relevant to a determination of 
        whether a person is disqualified from possessing or receiving a 
        firearm under subsection (g) or (n) of section 922 of title 18, 
        United States Code, shall make available to the Attorney 
        General the record, updated not less than quarterly, for use in 
        the background checks performed by the National Instant 
        Criminal Background Check System.''.

SEC. 606. RULEMAKING TO PERMIT SUBMISSION OF MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS TO 
              THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM 
              PURSUANT TO THE HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND 
              ACCOUNTABILITY ACT.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall promulgate final 
regulations, in accordance with section 264(c) of the Health Insurance 
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 1320d-2 note), to 
allow disclosures of information described in section 102(c)(3) of the 
NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 (18 U.S.C. 922 note) to the 
National Instant Criminal Background Check System to assist the 
Attorney General in enforcing section 922(g)(4) of title 18, United 
States Code.
                                 <all>