I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1544 
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through 
the Director of the Center for Mental Health Services of the Substance 
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, to award grants to 
facilitate the funding of community-based mental health and substance 
use disorder services and peer support programs, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 3, 2021 
Mr. CA´RDENAS (for himself and Mr. TONKO) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
acting through the Director of the Center for Mental 
Health Services of the Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services Administration, to award grants to facili-
tate the funding of community-based mental health and 
substance use disorder services and peer support pro-
grams, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Virtual Community 
Support Act of 2021’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:31 Apr 19, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1544.IH
H1544
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. GRANT FOR COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH 
AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES 
AND PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 15 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services, acting through the Director of the 
Center for Mental Health Services of the Substance Abuse 
and Mental Health Services Administration, shall estab-
lish a program (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Program’’) 
to facilitate the funding of community-based mental health 
and substance use disorder services and peer support pro-
grams. 
(b) GRANT AUTHORITY.—In carrying out the Pro-
gram, the Secretary shall award a grant in accordance 
with this section. 
(c) ELIGIBLE
RECIPIENTS.—The Secretary may 
award a grant under the Program to an eligible recipient 
determined by the Secretary to be authorized and capable 
of carrying out a project described in subsection (d). 
(d) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—Grant funds awarded 
under the Program may be used to— 
(1) identify and coordinate care between pro-
grams that provide access to community-based men-
tal health and substance use disorder services for ju-
veniles and assist in the coordination of such serv-
ices; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:31 Apr 19, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1544.IH
H1544
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(2) identify and coordinate care between pro-
grams that provide access to community-based men-
tal health and substance use disorder services for 
adults and assist in the coordination of such serv-
ices; 
(3) obtain technology required to provide a 
community-based mental health and substance use 
disorder services virtually; 
(4) compensate a healthcare provider or a peer 
specialist for the provision of community-based men-
tal health and substance use disorder services; 
(5) provide education assistance to an indi-
vidual seeking certification as a peer specialist; 
(6) provide for workforce development, recruit-
ment, and retention activities, to train, recruit, and 
retain peer specialists; 
(7) transition a network of in-person, peer spe-
cialist facilitated behavioral health support services 
to a virtual platform for such behavioral health sup-
port services; or 
(8) expand or improve virtual, peer specialist 
facilitated behavioral health support services carried 
out by the entity prior to the date of enactment of 
this section. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:31 Apr 19, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1544.IH
H1544
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(e) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible for a grant under 
the Program, an eligible recipient shall submit to the Sec-
retary an application in such form, at such time, and con-
taining such information as the Secretary determines to 
be appropriate. 
(f) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 15 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue 
guidance on the requirements an eligible recipient shall 
take to provide community-based mental health and sub-
stance use disorder services. 
(g) SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.—Federal funds 
paid to an eligible recipient pursuant to the Program must 
be used to supplement, but not supplant, any other Fed-
eral, State, or local funds available to such eligible recipi-
ent. 
(h) REPORT.— 
(1) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date on which funds are distributed under 
the Program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress 
a report on the Program that includes— 
(A) the number of grants awarded under 
the Program; 
(B) the location of each grant awarded 
under the Program; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:31 Apr 19, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1544.IH
H1544
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(C) the amount requested and amount 
awarded for each grant under the Program. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 30 days after the 
end of the COVID-19 emergency period, the Sec-
retary shall submit to Congress a report on the Pro-
gram that includes— 
(A) the number of grants awarded under 
the Program; 
(B) the location of each grant awarded 
under the Program; and 
(C) the amount requested and amount 
awarded for each grant under the Program. 
(3) PUBLICATION REQUIREMENT.—On the date 
on which a report is submitted under paragraphs (1) 
or (2), the Secretary shall publish such report sub-
mitted on the website of the Department of Health 
and Human Services. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Program— 
(1) during the COVID-19 emergency period, 
such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal 
years such emergency period is ongoing; and 
(2) after the COVID-19 emergency period, 
$5,000,000 for each of the five fiscal years begin-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:31 Apr 19, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1544.IH
H1544
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
ning after the termination of the COVID-19 emer-
gency period. 
(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVID-19 EMERGENCY PERIOD.—The term 
‘‘COVID-19 emergency period’’ means the public 
health emergency declared by the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services on January 27, 2020, 
with respect to the 2019 novel coronavirus. 
(2) ELIGIBLE RECIPIENT.—The term ‘‘eligible 
recipient’’ means— 
(A) a department of health or a depart-
ment of public health, in coordination with a 
State; 
(B) a behavioral health program that pri-
marily serves individuals with mental health or 
substance abuse disorders; 
(C) community-based nonprofit, that is a 
consumer-controlled and is certified in accord-
ance with applicable State law to deliver peer 
specialist support services at a State or local 
level; or 
(D) an institution of higher education pro-
viding service learning and civic-engagement 
courses for peer specialist training. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:31 Apr 19, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1544.IH
H1544
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
(3) 
HEALTHCARE
PROVIDER.—The 
term 
‘‘healthcare provider’’ mean a certified provider who 
provides behavioral health services. 
(4) PEER SPECIALIST.—The term ‘‘peer spe-
cialist’’ includes— 
(A) a certified peer specialist; 
(B) a peer recovery support specialist; and 
(C) a recovery coach for behavioral health. 
(5) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means a State 
of the United States, the District of Columbia, or 
any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the 
United States, or an Indian tribe. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:31 Apr 19, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1544.IH
H1544
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS