[House Report 114-786]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


114th Congress    }                                      {     Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session       }                                      {     114-786

======================================================================



 
                  MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID ACT OF 2016

                                _______
                                

 September 26, 2016.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. Upton, from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1877]

    The Committee on Energy and Commerce, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 1877) to amend section 520J of the Public Health 
Service Act to authorize grants for mental health first aid 
training programs, having considered the same, report favorably 
thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as 
amended do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Purpose and Summary..............................................     2
Background and Need for Legislation..............................     2
Hearings.........................................................     2
Committee Consideration..........................................     2
Committee Votes..................................................     3
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................     3
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............     3
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures     3
Earmark, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits.......     3
Committee Cost Estimate..........................................     3
Congressional Budget Office Estimate.............................     3
Federal Mandates Statement.......................................     3
Duplication of Federal Programs..................................     3
Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings..............................     4
Advisory Committee Statement.....................................     4
Applicability to Legislative Branch..............................     4
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation...................     4
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............     4

    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Mental Health First Aid Act of 2016''.

SEC. 2. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING GRANTS.

  Section 520J of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-41) is 
amended--
          (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``mental health 
        awareness'' before ``training''; and
          (2) in subsection (b)--
                  (A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
                ``Illness'' and inserting ``Health'';
                  (B) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, veterans, law 
                enforcement, and other categories of individuals, as 
                determined by the Secretary,'' after ``emergency 
                services personnel'';
                  (C) in paragraph (5)--
                          (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
                        by striking ``to'' and inserting ``for 
                        evidence-based programs that provide education 
                        to teachers, personnel, and other categories of 
                        individuals described in paragraph (1) on at 
                        least''; and
                          (ii) by striking subparagraphs (A) through 
                        (C) and inserting the following:
                  ``(A) recognizing the signs and symptoms of mental 
                illness; and
                  ``(B) either--
                          ``(i) resources available in the community 
                        for individuals with a mental illness and other 
                        relevant resources; or
                          ``(ii) the safe de-escalation of crisis 
                        situations involving individuals with a mental 
                        illness.''; and
                  (D) in paragraph (7), by striking ``, $25,000,000'' 
                and all that follows through the period at the end and 
                inserting ``$14,963,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 
                through 2021.''.

                          Purpose and Summary

    H.R. 1877, the Mental Health First Aid Act of 2016, was 
introduced on April 16, 2015, by Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) and 
Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA). H.R. 1877 reauthorizes an existing 
grant program at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration (SAMHSA) that provides for mental health 
awareness training grants.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    The Committee on Energy and Commerce, through the 
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, undertook a 
yearlong investigation that spanned the 113th and 114th 
Congresses that examined the state of our mental health care 
system. Programs like mental health first aid are important for 
training the public in how to respond to mental health crises, 
recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illness, and help 
connect individuals with available community resources.

                                Hearings

    The Subcommittee on Health did not hold a hearing on H.R. 
1877.

                        Committee Consideration

    On September 12 and 13, 2016, the Subcommittee on Health 
met in open markup session and forwarded H.R. 1877 to the full 
Committee, as amended, by a voice vote.
    On September 20 and 21, 2016, the full Committee on Energy 
and Commerce met in open markup session and ordered H.R. 1877 
reported to the House, as amended, by a voice vote.

                            Committee Votes

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires the Committee to list the record votes 
on the motion to report legislation and amendments thereto. 
There were no record votes taken in connection with ordering 
H.R. 1877 reported.

                      Committee Oversight Findings

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee has not held hearings 
on this legislation.

         Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives

    This legislation reauthorizes a grant program at SAMSHA for 
mental health awareness training programs.

   New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee finds that H.R. 
1877 would result in no new or increased budget authority, 
entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or revenues.

       Earmark, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits

    In compliance with clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI 
of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee 
finds that H.R. 1877 contains no earmarks, limited tax 
benefits, or limited tariff benefits.

                        Committee Cost Estimate

    The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared 
by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to 
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. At the 
time this report was filed, the estimate was not available.

                  Congressional Budget Office Estimate

    At the time this report was filed, the cost estimate 
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
was not available.

                       Federal Mandates Statement

    The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal 
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act.

                    Duplication of Federal Programs

    No provision of H.R. 1877 establishes or reauthorizes a 
program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of 
another Federal program, a program that was included in any 
report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress 
pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program 
related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance.

                  Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings

    The Committee estimates that enacting H.R. 1877 
specifically directs to be completed no rule making within the 
meaning of 5 U.S.C. 551.

                      Advisory Committee Statement

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this 
legislation.

                  Applicability to Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.

             Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation


Section 1. Short title

    This act may be cited as the ``Mental Health First Aid Act 
of 2016.''

Section 2. Mental health awareness training grants

    Section 2 clarifies that organizations that provide 
training to veterans, law enforcement, and other categories of 
individuals as determined by the Secretary are explicitly 
included as being eligible for participation in these grants. 
Additionally, the section ensures that evidence-based programs 
are being funded through the grant.
    The grant program is reauthorized at its last appropriated 
level of $14,963,000 for FY2017 through FY2021.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

                       PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT




           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
TITLE V--SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



Part B--Centers and Programs

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



Subpart 3--Center for Mental Health Services

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



SEC. 520J.  MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING GRANTS.

  (a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants in 
accordance with the provisions of this section.
  (b) Mental [Illness] Health Awareness Training Grants.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants to 
        States, political subdivisions of States, Indian 
        tribes, tribal organizations, and nonprofit private 
        entities to train teachers and other relevant school 
        personnel to recognize symptoms of childhood and 
        adolescent mental disorders, to refer family members to 
        the appropriate mental health services if necessary, to 
        train emergency services personnel, veterans, law 
        enforcement, and other categories of individuals, as 
        determined by the Secretary, to identify and 
        appropriately respond to persons with a mental illness, 
        and to provide education to such teachers and personnel 
        regarding resources that are available in the community 
        for individuals with a mental illness.
          (2) Emergency Services Personnel.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``emergency services personnel'' 
        includes paramedics, firefighters, and emergency 
        medical technicians.
          (3) Distribution of Awards.--The Secretary shall 
        ensure that such grants awarded under this subsection 
        are equitably distributed among the geographical 
        regions of the United States and between urban and 
        rural populations.
          (4) Application.--A State, political subdivision of a 
        State, Indian tribe, tribal organization, or nonprofit 
        private entity that desires a grant under this 
        subsection shall submit an application to the Secretary 
        at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may require, including a 
        plan for the rigorous evaluation of activities that are 
        carried out with funds received under a grant under 
        this subsection.
          (5) Use of Funds.--A State, political subdivision of 
        a State, Indian tribe, tribal organization, or 
        nonprofit private entity receiving a grant under this 
        subsection shall use funds from such grant [to] for 
        evidence-based programs that provide education to 
        teachers, personnel, and other categories of 
        individuals described in paragraph (1) on at least--
                  [(A) train teachers and other relevant school 
                personnel to recognize symptoms of childhood 
                and adolescent mental disorders and 
                appropriately respond;
                  [(B) train emergency services personnel to 
                identify and appropriately respond to persons 
                with a mental illness; and
                  [(C) provide education to such teachers and 
                personnel regarding resources that are 
                available in the community for individuals with 
                a mental illness.]
                  (A) recognizing the signs and symptoms of 
                mental illness; and
                  (B) either--
                          (i) resources available in the 
                        community for individuals with a mental 
                        illness and other relevant resources; 
                        or
                          (ii) the safe de-escalation of crisis 
                        situations involving individuals with a 
                        mental illness.
          (6) Evaluation.--A State, political subdivision of a 
        State, Indian tribe, tribal organization, or nonprofit 
        private entity that receives a grant under this 
        subsection shall prepare and submit an evaluation to 
        the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the Secretary may 
        reasonably require, including an evaluation of 
        activities carried out with funds received under the 
        grant under this subsection and a process and outcome 
        evaluation.
          (7) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is 
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
        subsection[, $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 and such 
        sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2002 
        through 2003.] $14,963,000 for each of fiscal years 
        2017 through 2021.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *