Virtual Community Support Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.1544 | Sponsor: Rep. Cárdenas, Tony (D-CA)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Virtual Community Support Act of 2021
This bill requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to award grants for community-based mental health services, substance-use disorder services, and peer support services. Eligible grantees include health departments, behavioral health programs, nonprofits, and institutions of higher education.
SAMHSA must report on the grant program, including specifically with respect to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period.

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.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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''.

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 
establish 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 programs.
    (b) Grant Authority.--In carrying out the Program, 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 programs that 
        provide access to community-based mental health and substance 
        use disorder services for juveniles and assist in the 
        coordination of such services;
            (2) identify and coordinate care between programs that 
        provide access to community-based mental health and substance 
        use disorder services for adults and assist in the coordination 
        of such services;
            (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 mental health and 
        substance use disorder services;
            (5) provide education assistance to an individual seeking 
        certification as a peer specialist;
            (6) provide for workforce development, recruitment, and 
        retention activities, to train, recruit, and retain peer 
        specialists;
            (7) transition a network of in-person, peer specialist 
        facilitated behavioral health support services to a virtual 
        platform for such behavioral health support 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.
    (e) Applications.--To be eligible for a grant under the Program, an 
eligible recipient shall submit to the Secretary an application in such 
form, at such time, and containing 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 substance 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 Federal, State, or local funds available to such 
eligible recipient.
    (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
                    (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 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
                    (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 submitted 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 beginning after the termination 
        of the COVID-19 emergency 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 department of 
                public health, in coordination with a State;
                    (B) a behavioral health program that primarily 
                serves individuals with mental health or substance 
                abuse disorders;
                    (C) community-based nonprofit, that is a consumer-
                controlled and is certified in accordance with 
                applicable State law to deliver peer specialist support 
                services at a State or local level; or
                    (D) an institution of higher education providing 
                service learning and civic-engagement courses for peer 
                specialist training.
            (3) Healthcare provider.--The term ``healthcare provider'' 
        mean a certified provider who provides behavioral health 
        services.
            (4) Peer specialist.--The term ``peer specialist'' 
        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.
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