I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 274 
To amend section 520J of the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants 
for mental health first aid training programs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 15, 2013 
Mr. BARBER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend section 520J of the Public Health Service Act 
to authorize grants for mental health first aid training 
programs. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Mental Health First 
Act of 2013’’. 
SEC. 2. MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING GRANTS. 
Section 520J of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 290bb–41) is amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘SEC. 520J. MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) GRANTS.—The Secretary, acting through the 
Administrator, shall award grants to States, political sub-
divisions of States, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and 
nonprofit private entities to initiate and sustain mental 
health first aid training programs. 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible for funding 
under subsection (a), a mental health first aid train-
ing program shall— 
‘‘(A) be designed to train individuals in the 
categories listed in paragraph (2) to accomplish 
the objectives described in paragraph (3); 
‘‘(B) ensure that training is conducted by 
trainers 
that 
are 
properly 
licensed 
and 
credentialed by nonprofit entities as designated 
by the Secretary; and 
‘‘(C) include— 
‘‘(i) at a minimum— 
‘‘(I) a core live training course 
for individuals in the categories listed 
in paragraph (2) on the skills, re-
sources, and knowledge to assist indi-
viduals in crisis to connect with ap-
propriate local mental health care 
services; 
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‘‘(II) training on mental health 
resources, including the location of 
community mental health centers de-
scribed in section 1913(c), in the 
State and local community; and 
‘‘(III) training on action plans 
and protocols for referral to such re-
sources; and 
‘‘(ii) where feasible, continuing edu-
cation and updated training for individuals 
in the categories listed in paragraph (2). 
‘‘(2) CATEGORIES
OF
INDIVIDUALS
TO
BE 
TRAINED.—The categories of individuals listed in 
this paragraph are the following: 
‘‘(A) Emergency services personnel and 
other first responders. 
‘‘(B) Police officers and other law enforce-
ment personnel. 
‘‘(C) Teachers and school administrators. 
‘‘(D) Human resources professionals. 
‘‘(E) Faith community leaders. 
‘‘(F) Nurses and other primary care per-
sonnel. 
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‘‘(G) Students enrolled in an elementary 
school, a secondary school, or an institution of 
higher education. 
‘‘(H) The parents of students described in 
subparagraph (G). 
‘‘(I) Veterans. 
‘‘(J) Other individuals, audiences or train-
ing populations as determined appropriate by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(3) OBJECTIVES OF TRAINING.—To be eligible 
for funding under subsection (a), a mental health 
first aid training program shall be designed to train 
individuals in the categories listed in paragraph (2) 
to accomplish each of the following objectives (as ap-
propriate for the individuals to be trained, taking 
into consideration their age): 
‘‘(A) Safe de-escalation of crisis situations. 
‘‘(B) Recognition of the signs and symp-
toms of mental illness, including such common 
psychiatric conditions as schizophrenia, bipolar 
disorder, major clinical depression, and anxiety 
disorders. 
‘‘(C) Timely referral to mental health serv-
ices in the early stages of developing mental 
disorders in order to— 
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