[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 167 (Thursday, December 16, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10411-S10412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mr. REED (for himself and Ms. Stabenow):
S. 4035. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide
grants for community-based mental health infrastructure improvement; to
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I introduce, along with my colleague,
Senator Stabenow, the Community-Based Mental Health Infrastructure
Improvements Act.
Multiple research studies have shown that people with mental illness
are at greater risk of preventable health conditions such as heart
disease and diabetes and are more likely to die sooner than healthy
individuals--in some instances up to 25 years sooner. In order to
address this troubling trend, I authored language in the new health
insurance reform law to ensure that individuals with multiple co-
occurring mental, behavioral, and physical health conditions have
access to a coordinated and integrated health care delivery system.
Under this provision, Community Mental Health Centers are authorized to
provide patients with mental, behavioral, and primary health care all
in one location.
Recently, I was pleased to learn that two Community Mental Health
Centers in Rhode Island received funding to begin to offer these co-
located services. However, many Community Mental Health Centers are
unable to provide this broader range of services due to the limited
physical space they occupy. The Community-Based Mental Health
Infrastructure Improvements Act would authorize grants to states for
the construction and modernization of these facilities. Indeed, for
some Community Mental Health Centers, facility updates are the first
step to enhancing patient care.
I am also pleased that this legislation has been included in a
broader piece of legislation that I joined Senator Stabenow in
introducing today, the Excellence in Mental Health Act. As a member of
the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, I will
continue to work to include these important initiatives in legislation
that renews and improves Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, SAMHSA, programs.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 4035
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 ``Community-Based Mental
Health Infrastructure Improvements Act''.
SEC. 2. COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENT.
Title V of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``PART H--COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS
``SEC. 560. GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
``(a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary may award grants to
eligible entities to expend funds for the construction or
modernization of facilities used to provide mental health and
substance abuse services to individuals.
``(b) Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term `eligible
entity' means--
``(1) a State that is the recipient of a Community Mental
Health Services Block Grant under subpart I of part B of
title XIX and a Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Block Grant under subpart II of such part; or
``(2) an Indian tribe or a tribal organization (as such
terms are defined in sections 4(b) and 4(c) of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act).
``(c) Application.--A eligible entity desiring a grant
under this section shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing--
``(1) a plan for the construction or modernization of
facilities used to provide mental health and substance abuse
services to individuals that--
``(A) designates a single State or tribal agency as the
sole agency for the supervision and administration of the
grant;
``(B) contains satisfactory evidence that such agency so
designated will have the authority to carry out the plan;
``(C) provides for the designation of an advisory council,
which shall include representatives of nongovernmental
organizations or groups, and of the relevant State or tribal
agencies, that aided in the development of the plan and that
will implement and monitor any grant awarded to the eligible
entity under this section;
``(D) in the case of an eligible entity that is a State,
includes a copy of the State plan under section 1912(b) and
section 1932(b);
``(E)(i) includes a listing of the projects to be funded by
the grant; and
``(ii) in the case of an eligible entity that is a State,
explains how each listed project helps the State in
accomplishing its goals and objectives under the Community
Mental Health Services Block Grant under subpart I of part B
of title XIX and the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Block Grant under subpart II of such part;
``(F) includes assurances that the facilities will be used
for a period of not less than 10 years for the provision of
community-based mental health or substance abuse services for
those who cannot pay for such services, subject to subsection
(e); and
``(G) in the case of a facility that is not a public
facility, includes the name and executive director of the
entity who will provide services in the facility; and
``(2) with respect to each construction or modernization
project described in the application--
``(A) a description of the site for the project;
``(B) plans and specifications for the project and State or
tribal approval for the plans and specifications;
``(C) assurance that the title for the site is or will be
vested with either the public entity or private nonprofit
entity who will provide the services in the facility;
``(D) assurance that adequate financial resources will be
available for the construction or major rehabilitation of the
project and for the maintenance and operation of the
facility;
``(E) estimates of the cost of the project; and
``(F) the estimated length of time for completion of the
project.
``(d) Subgrants by States.--
``(1) In general.--A State that receives a grant under this
section may award a subgrant to a qualified community program
(as such term is used in section 1913(b)(1)).
``(2) Use of funds.--Subgrants awarded pursuant to
paragraph (1) may be used for activities such as--
``(A) the construction, expansion, and modernization of
facilities used to provide mental health and substance abuse
services to individuals;
``(B) acquiring and leasing facilities and equipment
(including paying the costs of amortizing the principal of,
and paying the interest on, loans for such facilities and
equipment) to support or further the operation of the
subgrantee;
``(C) the construction and structural modification
(including equipment acquisition) of facilities to permit the
integrated delivery of behavioral health and primary care of
specialty medical services to individuals with co-occurring
mental illnesses and chronic medical or surgical diseases at
a single service site; and
``(D) acquiring information technology required to
accommodate the clinical needs of primary and specialty care
professionals.
``(3) Limitation.--Not to exceed 15 percent of grant funds
may be used for activities described in paragraph (2)(D).
``(e) Request To Transfer Obligation.--An eligible entity
that receives a grant under this section may submit a request
to the Secretary for permission to transfer the 10-year
obligation of facility use, as described in subsection
(c)(1)(F), to another facility.
[[Page S10412]]
``(f) Agreement to Federal Share.--As a condition of
receipt of a grant under this section, an eligible entity
shall agree, with respect to the costs to be incurred by the
entity in carrying out the activities for which such grant is
awarded, that the entity will make available non-Federal
contributions (which may include State or local funds, or
funds from the qualified community program) in an amount
equal to not less than $1 for every $1 of Federal funds
provided under the grant.
``(g) Reporting.--
``(1) Reporting by states.--During the 10-year period
referred to in subsection (c)(1)(F), the Secretary shall
require that a State that receives a grant under this section
submit, as part of the report of the State required under the
Community Mental Health Services Block Grant under subpart I
of part B of title XIX and the Substance Abuse Prevention and
Treatment Block Grant under subpart II of such part, a
description of the progress on--
``(A) the projects carried out pursuant to the grant under
this section; and
``(B) the assurances that the facilities involved continue
to be used for the purpose for which they were funded under
such grant during such 10-year period.
``(2) Reporting by indian tribes and tribal
organizations.--The Secretary shall establish reporting
requirements for Indian tribes and tribal organizations that
receive a grant under this section. Such reporting
requirements shall include that such Indian tribe or tribal
organization provide a description of the progress on--
``(A) the projects carried out pursuant to the grant under
this section; and
``(B) the assurances that the facilities involved continue
to be used for the purpose for which they were funded under
such grant during the 10-year period referred to in
subsection (c)(1)(F).
``(h) Failure To Meet Obligations.--
``(1) In general.--If an eligible entity that receives a
grant under this section fails to meet any of the obligations
of the entity required under this section, the Secretary
shall take appropriate steps, which may include--
``(A) requiring that the entity return the unused portion
of the funds awarded under this section for the projects that
are incomplete; and
``(B) extending the length of time that the entity must
ensure that the facility involved is used for the purposes
for which it is intended, as described in subsection
(c)(1)(F).
``(2) Hearing.--Prior to requesting the return of the funds
under paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary shall provide the
entity notice and opportunity for a hearing.
``(i) Collaboration.--The Secretary may establish
intergovernmental and interdepartmental memorandums of
agreement as necessary to carry out this section.
``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for
fiscal year 2010 and such sums as may be necessary for each
of fiscal years 2011 through 2013.''.
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