[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 711 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 711

  To amend section 520J of the Public Health Service Act to authorize 
         grants for mental health first aid training programs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 11, 2015

 Ms. Ayotte (for herself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Reed, Mr. 
 Rubio, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Portman, Mr. Coons, Mr. Heller, Ms. Heitkamp, 
 and Mrs. Shaheen) introduced the following bill; which was read twice 
and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend section 520J of the Public Health Service Act to authorize 
         grants for mental health first aid training programs.

    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 ``Mental Health First Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING GRANTS.

    Section 520J of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-41) 
is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 520J. MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING GRANTS.

    ``(a) Grants.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator, 
shall award grants to States, political subdivisions of States, Indian 
tribes, tribal organizations, and nonprofit private entities to 
initiate and sustain mental health first aid training programs.
    ``(b) Program Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--To be eligible for funding under 
        subsection (a), a mental health first aid training program 
        shall--
                    ``(A) be designed to train individuals in the 
                categories listed in paragraph (2) to accomplish the 
                objectives described in paragraph (3);
                    ``(B) ensure that training is conducted by trainers 
                that are properly licensed and credentialed by 
                nonprofit entities as designated by the Secretary; and
                    ``(C) include--
                            ``(i) at a minimum--
                                    ``(I) a core live training course 
                                for individuals in the categories 
                                listed in paragraph (2) on the skills, 
                                resources, and knowledge to assist 
                                individuals in crisis to connect with 
                                appropriate local mental health care 
                                services;
                                    ``(II) training on mental health 
                                resources, including the location of 
                                community mental health centers 
                                described in section 1913(c), in the 
                                State and local community; and
                                    ``(III) training on action plans 
                                and protocols for referral to such 
                                resources; and
                            ``(ii) where feasible, continuing education 
                        and updated training for individuals in the 
                        categories listed in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Categories of individual to be trained.--The 
        categories of individuals listed in this paragraph are the 
        following:
                    ``(A) Emergency services personnel and other first 
                responders.
                    ``(B) Police officers and other law enforcement 
                personnel.
                    ``(C) Teachers and school administrators.
                    ``(D) Human resources professionals.
                    ``(E) Nurses and other primary care personnel.
                    ``(F) Students enrolled in an elementary school, a 
                secondary school, or an institution of higher 
                education.
                    ``(G) The parents of students described in 
                subparagraph (F).
                    ``(H) Veterans and veteran stakeholders, including 
                family members and caregivers, members of veteran peer 
                support networks, and veteran service organizations.
                    ``(I) Other individuals, audiences or training 
                populations as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
            ``(3) Objectives of training.--To be eligible for funding 
        under subsection (a), a mental health first aid training 
        program shall be designed to train individuals in the 
        categories listed in paragraph (2) to accomplish each of the 
        following objectives (as appropriate for the individuals to be 
        trained, taking into consideration their age):
                    ``(A) Safe de-escalation of crisis situations.
                    ``(B) Recognition of the signs and symptoms of 
                mental illness, including such common psychiatric 
                conditions as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major 
                clinical depression, and anxiety disorders.
                    ``(C) Timely referral to mental health services in 
                the early stages of developing mental disorders in 
                order to--
                            ``(i) avoid more costly subsequent 
                        behavioral health care; and
                            ``(ii) enhance the effectiveness of mental 
                        health services.
    ``(c) Distribution of Awards.--In awarding grants under this 
section, the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) ensure that grants are equitably distributed among 
        the geographical regions of the United States; and
            ``(2) pay particular attention to the mental health 
        training needs of populations and target audiences residing in 
        rural areas.
    ``(d) Application.--A State, political subdivision of a State, 
Indian tribe, tribal organization, or nonprofit private entity that 
desires a grant under this section 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 
such grant.
    ``(e) Evaluation.--A State, political subdivision of a State, 
Indian tribe, tribal organization, or nonprofit private entity that 
receives a grant under this section 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 such grant and a process and outcome evaluation.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there are authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for fiscal year 
2016, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2017 
and 2018.''.
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