II 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4059 

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants 

to States, political subdivisions of States, Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, community-based entities, and primary care and behavioral 

health organizations to address behavioral health needs caused by the 

public health emergency declared with respect to COVID–19. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 24, 2020 

Ms. SMITH (for herself and Ms. MURKOWSKI) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to 

award grants to States, political subdivisions of States, 

Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, community-based 

entities, and primary care and behavioral health organizations to address behavioral health needs caused by 

the public health emergency declared with respect to 

COVID–19. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘COVID–19 Behavioral 

3 Health Support Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. GRANTS TO SUPPORT INCREASED BEHAVIORAL 

5 HEALTH NEEDS DUE TO COVID–19. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the 

7 Assistant Secretary of Mental Health and Substance Use, 

8 shall award grants to States, political subdivisions of 

9 States, Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, commu10 nity-based entities, and primary care and behavioral 

11 health organizations to address behavioral health needs 

12 caused by the public health emergency declared pursuant 

13 to section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 

14 247d) with respect to COVID–19. 

15 (b) USE OF FUNDS.—An entity that receives a grant 

16 under subsection (a) may use funds received through such 

17 grant to— 

18 (1) increase behavioral health treatment and 

19 prevention capacity, including to— 

20 (A) promote coordination among local enti21 ties; 

22 (B) train the behavioral health workforce, 

23 relevant stakeholders, and community members; 

24 (C) upgrade technology to support effective 

25 delivery of health care services through teleVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:49 Jul 08, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4059.IS S4059

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1 health modalities, including the purchase of 

2 telehealth equipment; 

3 (D) purchase medical supplies and equip4 ment for behavioral health treatment entities, 

5 providers, and patients; 

6 (E) address and support surge capacity for 

7 behavioral health needs (such as through mobile 

8 units), including the purchasing of supplies and 

9 equipment; 

10 (F) promote collaboration between primary 

11 care and mental health providers; and 

12 (G) cover overhead costs, including rent 

13 and utility costs; and 

14 (2) support or enhance behavioral health serv15 ices, including— 

16 (A) emergency crisis intervention, includ17 ing mobile crisis units, 24/7 crisis call centers, 

18 and medically staffed crisis stabilization pro19 grams; 

20 (B) screening, assessment, diagnosis, and 

21 treatment; 

22 (C) mental health awareness trainings; 

23 (D) evidence-based suicide prevention; 

24 (E) evidence-based integrated care models; 

25 (F) community recovery and peer supports; 


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1 (G) outreach to underserved and minority 

2 communities; and 

3 (H) support for front line health care 

4 workers. 

5 (c) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall give priority to 

6 applicants that are— 

7 (1) culturally specific organizations, Tribal be8 havioral health and substance use disorder providers, 

9 or organizations that are intentional about serving 

10 populations where COVID–19 has had the most im11 pact; or 

12 (2) proposing to serve areas with a high num13 ber of COVID–19 cases. 

14 (d) EVALUATION.—An entity that receives a grant 

15 under this section shall prepare and submit an evaluation 

16 to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and con17 taining such information as the Secretary may reasonably 

18 require, including— 

19 (1) an evaluation of activities carried out with 

20 funds received through the grant; and 

21 (2) a process and outcome evaluation. 

22 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 

23 out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated 


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1 $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 and 2021, to 

2 remain available until expended. 

Æ 


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