[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7924 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7924

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support graduate programs 
    in mental and behavioral health professions at minority-serving 
                 institutions, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 10, 2024

Mr. Bowman (for himself, Mr. Cardenas, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Goldman 
    of New York, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Lee of 
Pennsylvania, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Moulton, Mrs. Napolitano, Ms. 
 Norton, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Ms. Omar, Mrs. Ramirez, Mr. Thanedar, Ms. 
Tlaib, Ms. Velazquez, and Mrs. Watson Coleman) introduced the following 
    bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
                               Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support graduate programs 
    in mental and behavioral health professions at minority-serving 
                 institutions, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Advancing Culturally Competent and 
Equitable Supportive Services in Mental Health Act'' or the ``ACCESS in 
Mental Health Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

     The purpose of this Act is to increase the number, size, and 
quality of accredited graduate training programs for mental and 
behavioral health professions at minority-serving institutions to 
address shortages in the mental and behavioral health professional 
workforce and diversify such workforce.

SEC. 3. GRANTS TO SUPPORT GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL 
              HEALTH PROFESSIONS AT HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND 
              UNIVERSITIES, TRIBAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, AND OTHER 
              MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS.

    Part A of title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1070) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subpart 5 as subpart 6;
            (2) in section 731--
                    (A) in the section heading, by striking ``subparts 
                1 through 4'' and inserting ``subparts 1 through 5'';
                    (B) in subsection (a), by striking ``subparts 1 
                through 4'' and inserting ``subparts 1 through 5'';
                    (C) in subsection (b), by striking ``subparts 1 
                through 4'' and inserting ``subparts 1 through 5''; and
                    (D) in subsection (d), by striking ``subpart 1, 2, 
                3, or 4'' and inserting ``subpart 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5''; 
                and
            (3) by inserting after subpart 4 the following:

    ``Subpart 5--Grants To Support Graduate Programs in Mental and 
   Behavioral Health Professions at Historically Black Colleges and 
  Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Other Minority-
                          Serving Institutions

``SEC. 727. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this subpart:
            ``(1) Cost of attendance.--The term `cost of attendance' 
        has the meaning given that term in section 472.
            ``(2) Culturally responsive care.--The term `culturally 
        responsive care' means care that is conducted or provided in a 
        manner that is responsive to the beliefs, backgrounds, customs, 
        interpersonal styles, lived experiences, language, and 
        behaviors of individuals who are receiving the care, and in a 
        manner that has the greatest likelihood of ensuring maximum 
        benefit and participation in the treatment provided.
            ``(3) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible 
        institution' means--
                    ``(A) an institution of higher education that is--
                            ``(i) a part B institution (as defined in 
                        section 322);
                            ``(ii) a Hispanic-serving institution (as 
                        defined in section 502);
                            ``(iii) a Tribal College or University (as 
                        defined in section 316);
                            ``(iv) an Alaska Native-serving institution 
                        (as defined in section 317(b));
                            ``(v) a Native Hawaiian-serving institution 
                        (as defined in section 317(b));
                            ``(vi) a Predominantly Black Institution 
                        (as defined in section 318);
                            ``(vii) an Asian American and Native 
                        American Pacific Islander-serving institution 
                        (as defined in section 320(b)); or
                            ``(viii) a Native American-serving, 
                        nontribal institution (as defined in section 
                        319);
                    ``(B) a consortium of institutions described in 
                subparagraph (A); or
                    ``(C) an institution described in subparagraph (A), 
                or a consortium described in subparagraph (B), in 
                partnership with any other institution of higher 
                education, but only if the program supported with a 
                grant under this subpart is carried out at an 
                institution described in subparagraph (A).
            ``(4) Health professional shortage area.--The term `health 
        professional shortage area' means an area designated as a 
        health professional shortage area by the Administrator of the 
        Health Resources and Services Administration of the Department 
        of Health and Human Services.
            ``(5) Mental or behavioral health professional.--The term 
        `mental or behavioral health professional' means an individual 
        with a graduate degree from an institution of higher education 
        with an accredited program that prepares students for State 
        licensing or certification in fields such as psychiatry, 
        psychology, school psychology, behavioral pediatrics, 
        psychiatric nursing, social work, school social work, substance 
        use disorder prevention and treatment, marriage and family 
        counseling, school counseling, professional counseling, child 
        and adolescent psychiatry, or any other provider that is a 
        State licensed or certified mental health professional 
        qualified under State law to provide mental health services.
            ``(6) School-based mental health services provider.--The 
        term `school-based mental health services provider' has the 
        meaning given the term in section 4102 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7112).
            ``(7) Trauma-informed care.--The term `trauma-informed 
        care' means care received by individuals who have experienced 
        or witnessed trauma that is healing-centered and culturally 
        responsive in accordance with professional standards of 
        practice and accounting for patients' experiences and that 
        recognizes the emotional, behavioral, and developmental 
        challenges that can accompany trauma exposure in order to 
        eliminate or mitigate triggers that may cause re-traumatization 
        of the patient.

``SEC. 728. GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS FOR GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAMS IN 
              MENTAL OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONS.

    ``(a) Program Authorized.--From amounts made available to carry out 
this section for each fiscal year and not reserved under subsection 
(b), the Secretary is authorized to award grants, on a competitive 
basis, to eligible institutions--
            ``(1) to establish, expand, or improve graduate programs in 
        mental and behavioral health professions, including programs 
        that train school-based mental service providers; or
            ``(2) to engage in planning activities necessary for the 
        establishment of new graduate programs in mental and behavioral 
        health professions, including programs that train school-based 
        mental health service providers.
    ``(b) Reservation.--The Secretary may reserve not more than two 
percent of the funds made available to carry out this section for a 
fiscal year to provide technical assistance to eligible institutions on 
matters relating to the grant program under this section and the 
implementation of programs supported by such grants.
    ``(c) Use of Funds.--
            ``(1) Required use of funds.--An eligible institution that 
        receives a grant under subsection (a)(1) shall use at least 
        five percent of grant funds to award scholarships or stipends, 
        based on financial need, to cover all or part of a student's 
        cost of attendance for the mental or behavioral health graduate 
        program. Scholarships and stipends awarded under this 
        subsection shall prioritize students who are from health 
        professional shortage areas.
            ``(2) Allowable use of funds.--After fulfilling the 
        requirement in paragraph (1), an eligible institution that 
        receives a grant under subsection (a)(1) shall use any 
        remaining grant funds to carry out one or more of the following 
        activities:
                    ``(A) Establish new accredited graduate programs 
                that prepare students for State licensing and 
                certification to serve as mental or behavioral health 
                professionals or school-based mental health services 
                providers, including through hiring and compensating 
                faculty, purchasing or developing culturally responsive 
                course materials, or other activities necessary to 
                establish such programs.
                    ``(B) Ensure that graduate programs in mental or 
                behavioral health professions offered by the 
                institution are preparing professionals who are highly 
                qualified, are able to provide culturally responsive 
                and trauma-informed behavioral health care, and are 
                equipped to serve in health professional shortage areas 
                or other high-need areas or schools, which may 
                include--
                            ``(i) recruiting, training, retraining, or 
                        retaining faculty for such programs;
                            ``(ii) designing or redesigning such 
                        programs--
                                    ``(I) to prepare mental or 
                                behavioral health professionals to 
                                serve in health professional shortage 
                                areas or other high-need areas or 
                                schools, provide culturally responsive 
                                and trauma-informed care to diverse 
                                patients, and meet the needs of the 
                                whole child or person;
                                    ``(II) to incorporate rigorous 
                                academic content and scientifically 
                                valid research; and
                                    ``(III) to adequately prepare 
                                students to meet State licensure and 
                                certification standards; and
                            ``(iii) developing or implementing high 
                        quality course materials, which may include 
                        purchasing necessary educational materials or 
                        other academic resources, to support the design 
                        or redesign of the program as described in 
                        clause (ii).
                    ``(C) Provide students with sustained and high-
                quality preservice and clinical experience that is 
                aligned with graduate education standards for their 
                respective fields, which may include--
                            ``(i) arranging for exemplary mental or 
                        behavioral health professionals in relevant 
                        fields or work settings to mentor students who 
                        are prospective mental or behavioral health 
                        professionals; or
                            ``(ii) substantially increasing the level 
                        of interaction between faculty at institutions 
                        of higher education and new and experienced 
                        mental and behavioral health professionals, and 
                        providing support, including preparation time, 
                        for such interactions.
                    ``(D) Establish partnerships with other 
                institutions of higher education with accredited 
                programs that prepare students for State licensing or 
                certification in mental or behavioral health fields to 
                allow cross registration or other forms of program 
                collaboration determined eligible by the Secretary for 
                the purposes of expanding access to classes, 
                certificate programs, or degree programs in mental or 
                behavioral health fields for students from racial or 
                ethnic minority communities.
                    ``(E) Develop and implement supportive services for 
                former students of the institution who work as mental 
                or behavioral health professionals or partnerships with 
                school districts, State or local agencies, or other 
                places of employment for former students to promote 
                retention in those professions, including services such 
                as--
                            ``(i) mental or behavioral health 
                        professional mentoring from exemplary mental or 
                        behavioral health professionals in relevant 
                        fields or work settings, including those 
                        working in schools or home-based care settings;
                            ``(ii) materials, resources, and support 
                        for mental or behavioral health professionals 
                        during their first three years of employment in 
                        such profession; or
                            ``(iii) services to prevent or mitigate 
                        secondary trauma or burnout associated with 
                        working in mental health professional shortage 
                        areas or other high-need areas or schools.
                    ``(F) Disseminate information on effective 
                practices for the preparation of mental or behavioral 
                health professionals, including practices for obtaining 
                any certifications or licenses needed to practice as a 
                mental or behavioral health professional or a school 
                mental health services provider in a State.
                    ``(G) Develop strategies to increase awareness, 
                interest, and experiential learning opportunities in 
                mental and behavioral health careers, especially among 
                racial and ethnic minority communities, including 
                through partnerships with State educational agencies, 
                local educational agencies, or other institutions of 
                higher education to increase awareness of and interest 
                in such careers among elementary school students, 
                secondary school students, or undergraduate students.
            ``(3) Planning grants.--An eligible institution that 
        receives a grant under subsection (a)(2) shall use the grant to 
        engage in planning activities necessary for the establishment 
        of at least one new graduate program in mental or behavioral 
        health professions.
    ``(d) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, an eligible institution shall submit an application to the 
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
as the Secretary may require. An eligible institution applying for a 
grant under subsection (a)(2) shall include in the institution's 
application for such grant information demonstrating evidence of--
            ``(1) an institutional commitment to opening and sustaining 
        a graduate program that prepares students to work as a mental 
        or behavioral health professional; and
            ``(2) a relationship with the relevant professional 
        organization, accreditation agency or association, or 
        regulatory body to ensure that planning aligns with 
        professional standards and State credentialing requirements.
    ``(e) Grant Amount.--
            ``(1) In general.--The minimum amount of each grant under 
        subsection (a)(1) shall be $500,000.
            ``(2) Planning grants.--The amount of each grant under 
        subsection (a)(2) shall be an amount determined by the 
        Secretary.
    ``(f) Limitation on Administrative Expenses.--An eligible 
institution that receives a grant under this section may use not more 
than three percent of funds provided to administer the grant, not 
including salary and benefits for faculty and staff.
    ``(g) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations 
as may be necessary to carry out this section.
    ``(h) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this section, and not less frequently than once every two 
years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the authorizing 
committees a report on the grant program under this section. Each 
report shall include--
            ``(1) descriptions of the programs supported with grants 
        under this section;
            ``(2) demographic information about the students served by 
        such programs; and
            ``(3) such other information as the Secretary determines 
        appropriate.
    ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary 
for each fiscal year.

``SEC. 729. GRANTS TO STUDENTS FOR GRADUATE STUDY IN MENTAL OR 
              BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to carry out a 
program under which the Secretary shall pay to an eligible institution 
such sums as may be necessary to enable the institution to provide each 
eligible student with a grant in the amount of $10,000 for each year 
during which the student attends an eligible graduate program at the 
institution.
    ``(b) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, a student shall submit to the institution an application at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Secretary, in consultation with the institution, may require.
    ``(c) Distribution to Students.--Subject to subsection (d), grants 
to students under this section shall be made in accordance with a 
process determined by the Secretary for such purpose, in such manner as 
will best accomplish the purpose of this section.
    ``(d) Limitation on Secretarial and Institutional Authority.--In 
carrying out the grant program under this section, the Secretary and 
any institution participating in the program may not--
            ``(1) convert a grant into a loan or otherwise require a 
        student to repay any portion of the grant amount; or
            ``(2) require a student to complete a service obligation as 
        a condition of receiving such a grant.
    ``(e) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
enactment of this section, and not less frequently than once every two 
years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the authorizing 
committees a report on the grant program under this section. Each 
report shall include information on the following:
            ``(1) The number and demographic information of students 
        who received grants under this section.
            ``(2) The degrees obtained by such recipients.
            ``(3) Such other information as the Secretary determines 
        appropriate.
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Eligible graduate program.--The term `eligible 
        graduate program' means a graduate degree program in a mental 
        or behavioral health profession, including school-based mental 
        health services, offered by an eligible institution.
            ``(2) Eligible student.--The term `eligible student ' means 
        a student who--
                    ``(A) is enrolled in an eligible graduate program 
                at a eligible institution participating in the program 
                under this section;
                    ``(B) is in good academic standing, as determined 
                by the institution; and
                    ``(C) has submitted an application to the 
                institution in accordance with subsection (b).
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary 
for each fiscal year.''.
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