59–006 

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’’. 


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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. 


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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. 


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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 

* * * * * * * 


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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 øILLNESS¿ 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 øto¿ for evidence-based programs that provide education 

to teachers, personnel, and other categories of individuals described in paragraph (1) on at least— 

ø(A) train teachers and other relevant school personnel 

to recognize symptoms of childhood and adolescent mental 

disorders and appropriately respond; 

ø(B) train emergency services personnel to identify and 

appropriately respond to persons with a mental illness; 

and 

ø(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. 


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(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 subsectionø, $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. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ 


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