I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8422 

To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 

Act to establish programs for the provision of mental health services 

to individuals affected by a major disaster, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 16, 2024 

Ms. BALINT (for herself and Mrs. GONZA ́LEZ-COLO ́N) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for 

a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 

consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to establish programs for the provision of mental health services to individuals affected 

by a major disaster, and for other purposes. 

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Mental Health Emer5 gency Needs in Disasters Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. ASSISTANCE FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 

2 AFTER MAJOR DISASTER. 

3 Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 

4 Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.) is 

5 amended by adding at the end the following: 

6 ‘‘SEC. 431. MOBILE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS SERVICES. 

7 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The President, acting through 

8 the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 

9 Agency, is authorized to provide mental and behavioral 

10 health counseling services to victims of a major disaster 

11 in order to relieve mental health problems caused or ag12 gravated by such major disaster or the aftermath of such 

13 disaster. 

14 ‘‘(b) TYPE OF ASSISTANCE.—The provision of behav15 ioral counseling services under this section shall be pro16 vided through mobile mental health crisis units and such 

17 units shall— 

18 ‘‘(1) be deployed to counties located in the area 

19 affected by a major disaster for not more than 2 

20 years after the date on which the President declared 

21 such major disaster; 

22 ‘‘(2) be staffed by individuals who— 

23 ‘‘(A) are employees of the Federal Emer24 gency Management Agency; 

25 ‘‘(B) are appropriately trained to— 


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1 ‘‘(i) address the effects of major dis2 asters on communities and individuals with 

3 socioeconomically disadvantaged back4 grounds; and 

5 ‘‘(ii) provide culturally appropriate 

6 care; 

7 ‘‘(C) are professionally trained and appro8 priately licensed to provide evidence-based care, 

9 such as psychological first aid, crisis counseling, 

10 sudden death counseling, and counseling to in11 dividuals with post-traumatic stress disorder; 

12 and 

13 ‘‘(D) to the extent practicable, have experi14 ence providing mental health services in the 

15 area affected by the major disaster; and 

16 ‘‘(3) disperse information about resources, other 

17 preventive materials, and available peer supports. 

18 ‘‘(c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—In carrying out this 

19 section, the Administrator may consult with and receive 

20 technical assistance or training from the Director of the 

21 Center for Mental Health Services of the Substance Abuse 

22 and Mental Health Services Administration. 

23 ‘‘(d) TIMING.—The Administrator shall ensure that 

24 mobile mental health crisis units described in subsection 

25 (b) are deployed immediately following a major disaster. 


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1 ‘‘SEC. 432. MENTAL HEALTH DISASTER GRANTS. 

2 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The President, acting through 

3 the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management 

4 Agency, is authorized to provide grants to a State or In5 dian tribal government for the purpose of providing behav6 ioral health treatment, including screening and diagnosis, 

7 crisis counseling, other related crisis helplines, or other 

8 service-delivery programs to individuals affected by a 

9 major disaster. 

10 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—A State or Indian tribal govern11 ment may only receive a grant under this section during 

12 the 2-year period beginning on the date on which the 

13 President declares the major disaster for which the State 

14 or Indian tribal government applies for such grant. 

15 ‘‘(c) APPLICATION.—Any State or Indian tribal gov16 ernment seeking a grant under this section shall submit 

17 to the Administrator an application containing materials 

18 describing any mental health services available to individ19 uals in the jurisdiction of the State or Indian tribal gov20 ernment, including an initial needs assessment describing 

21 unmet mental health service needs, and critical gaps in 

22 mental and substance use disorder prevention, treatment, 

23 and recovery support service systems. 

24 ‘‘(d) PRIORITIZATION.—In providing grants under 

25 this section, the Administrator shall prioritize awarding 

26 grants to States or Indian tribal governments with jurisVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:35 Jun 22, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8422.IH H8422

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1 diction over areas that have high unmet needs for mental 

2 health services. 

3 ‘‘(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—In carrying out this 

4 section, the Administrator may consult with and receive 

5 technical assistance or training from the Director of the 

6 Center for Mental Health Services of the Substance Abuse 

7 and Mental Health Services Administration. 

8 ‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

9 is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

10 $44,000,000 for each fiscal year.’’. 

11 SEC. 3. RESEARCH ON MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE 

12 USE DISORDERS AFTER MAJOR DISASTER. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal 

14 Emergency Management Agency shall establish a research 

15 program on the effects of major disasters (as such term 

16 is defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Dis17 aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 

18 5122)) on incidences and severity of mental health dis19 orders, substance use disorders, and alcohol use disorders, 

20 including the incidence and severity of such disorders 

21 across cultural, racial, and socioeconomic groups. 

22 (b) REQUIREMENTS.—The program established 

23 under subsection (a) shall include research on— 


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1 (1) efficacy of assistance provided under the 

2 Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 

3 Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); 

4 (2) the various long-term behavioral health ef5 fects on adults and children caused by specific types 

6 of major disasters; and 

7 (3) any other subject that the Administrator 

8 determines is necessary. 

Æ 


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