ACCESS in Mental Health Act

Bill: 118-hr-7924
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Bowman, Jamaal [D-NY-16]
Introduced: 2024-04-10
Policy area: Education
Latest action: action_date: 2024-05-06
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H2869)

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7924 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 10, 2024 Mr. Bowman (for himself, Mr. Cárdenas , Ms. Garcia of Texas , Mr. Goldman of New York , Ms. Jackson Lee , Ms. Lee of California , Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania , Ms. Moore of Wisconsin , Mr. Moulton , Mrs. Napolitano , Ms. Norton , Ms. Ocasio-Cortez , Ms. Omar , Mrs. Ramirez , Mr. Thanedar , Ms. Tlaib , Ms. Velázquez , and Mrs. Watson Coleman ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support graduate programs in mental and behavioral health professions at minority-serving institutions, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Advancing Culturally Competent and Equitable Supportive Services in Mental Health Act or the ACCESS in Mental Health Act . 2. Purpose The purpose of this Act is to increase the number, size, and quality of accredited graduate training programs for mental and behavioral health professions at minority-serving institutions to address shortages in the mental and behavioral health professional workforce and diversify such workforce. 3. Grants to support graduate programs in mental and behavioral health professions at historically black colleges and universities, tribal colleges and universities, and other minority-serving institutions Part A of title VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070 ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subpart 5 as subpart 6; (2) in section 731— (A) in the section heading, by striking subparts 1 through 4 and inserting subparts 1 through 5 ; (B) in subsection (a), by striking subparts 1 through 4 and inserting subparts 1 through 5 ; (C) in subsection (b), by striking subparts 1 through 4 and inserting subparts 1 through 5 ; and (D) in subsection (d), by striking subpart 1, 2, 3, or 4 and inserting subpart 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 ; and (3) by inserting after subpart 4 the following: 5 Grants To Support Graduate Programs in Mental and Behavioral Health Professions at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other Minority-Serving Institutions 727. Definitions In this subpart: (1) Cost of attendance The term cost of attendance has the meaning given that term in section 472. (2) Culturally responsive care The term culturally responsive care means care that is conducted or provided in a manner that is responsive to the beliefs, backgrounds, customs, interpersonal styles, lived experiences, language, and behaviors of individuals who are receiving the care, and in a manner that has the greatest likelihood of ensuring maximum benefit and participation in the treatment provided. (3) Eligible institution The term eligible institution means— (A) an institution of higher education that is— (i) a part B institution (as defined in section 322); (ii) a Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in section 502); (iii) a Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316); (iv) an Alaska Native-serving institution (as defined in section 317(b)); (v) a Native Hawaiian-serving institution (as defined in section 317(b)); (vi) a Predominantly Black Institution (as defined in section 318); (vii) an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution (as defined in section 320(b)); or (viii) a Native American-serving, nontribal institution (as defined in section 319); (B) a consortium of institutions described in subparagraph (A); or (C) an institution described in subparagraph (A), or a consortium described in subparagraph (B), in partnership with any other institution of higher education, but only if the program supported with a grant under this subpart is carried out at an institution described in subparagraph (A). (4) Health professional shortage area The term health professional shortage area means an area designated as a health professional shortage area by the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services. (5) Mental or behavioral health professional The term mental or behavioral health professional means an individual with a graduate degree from an institution of higher education with an accredited program that prepares students for State licensing or certification in fields such as psychiatry, psychology, school psychology, behavioral pediatrics, psychiatric nursing, social work, school social work, substance use disorder prevention and treatment, marriage and family counseling, school counseling, professional counseling, child and adolescent psychiatry, or any other provider that is a State licensed or certified mental health professional qualified under State law to provide mental health services. (6) School-based mental health services provider The term school-based mental health services provider has the meaning given the term in section 4102 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7112 ). (7) Trauma-informed care The term trauma-informed care means care received by individuals who have experienced or witnessed trauma that is healing-centered and culturally responsive in accordance with professional standards of practice and accounting for patients’ experiences and that recognizes the emotional, behavioral, and developmental challenges that can accompany trauma exposure in order to eliminate or mitigate triggers that may cause re-traumatization of the patient. 728. Grants to institutions for graduate training programs in mental or behavioral health professions (a) Program authorized From amounts made available to carry out this section for each fiscal year and not reserved under subsection (b), the Secretary is authorized to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible institutions— (1) to establish, expand, or improve graduate programs in mental and behavioral health professions, including programs that train school-based mental service providers; or (2) to engage in planning activities necessary for the establishment of new graduate programs in mental and behavioral health professions, including programs that train school-based mental health service providers. (b) Reservation The Secretary may reserve not more than two percent of the funds made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year to provide technical assistance to eligible institutions on matters relating to the grant program under this section and the implementation of programs supported by such grants. (c) Use of funds (1) Required use of funds An eligible institution that receives a grant under subsection (a)(1) shall use at least five percent of grant funds to award scholarships or stipends, based on financial need, to cover all or part of a student’s cost of attendance for the mental or behavioral health graduate program. Scholarships and stipends awarded under this subsection shall prioritize students who are from health professional shortage areas. (2) Allowable use of funds After fulfilling the requirement in paragraph (1), an eligible institution that receives a grant under subsection (a)(1) shall use any remaining grant funds to carry out one or more of the following activities: (A) Establish new accredited graduate programs that prepare students for State licensing and certification to serve as mental or behavioral health professionals or school-based mental health services providers, including through hiring and compensating faculty, purchasing or developing culturally responsive course materials, or other activities necessary to establish such programs. (B) Ensure that graduate programs in mental or behavioral health professions offered by the institution are preparing professionals who are highly qualified, are able to provide culturally responsive and trauma-informed behavioral health care, and are equipped to serve in health professional shortage areas or other high-need areas or schools, which may include— (i) recruiting, training, retraining, or retaining faculty for such programs; (ii) designing or redesigning such programs— (I) to prepare mental or behavioral health professionals to serve in health professional shortage areas or other high-need areas or schools, provide culturally responsive and trauma-informed care to diverse patients, and meet the needs of the whole child or person; (II) to incorporate rigorous academic content and scientifically valid research; and (III) to adequately prepare students to meet State licensure and certification standards; and (iii) developing or implementing high quality course materials, which may include purchasing necessary educational materials or other academic resources, to support the design or redesign of the program as described in clause (ii). (C) Provide students with sustained and high-quality preservice and clinical experience that is aligned with graduate education standards for their respective fields, which may include— (i) arranging for exemplary mental or behavioral health professionals in relevant fields or work settings to mentor students who are prospective mental or behavioral health professionals; or (ii) substantially increasing the level of interaction between faculty at institutions of higher education and new and experienced mental and behavioral health professionals, and providing support, including preparation time, for such interactions. (D) Establish partnerships with other institutions of higher education with accredited programs that prepare students for State licensing or certification in mental or behavioral health fields to allow cross registration or other forms of program collaboration determined eligible by the Secretary for the purposes of expanding access to classes, certificate programs, or degree programs in mental or behavioral health fields for students from racial or ethnic minority communities. (E) Develop and implement supportive services for former students of the institution who work as mental or behavioral health professionals or partnerships with school districts, State or local agencies, or other places of employment for former students to promote retention in those professions, including services such as— (i) mental or behavioral health professional mentoring from exemplary mental or behavioral health professionals in relevant fields or work settings, including those working in schools or home-based care settings; (ii) materials, resources, and support for mental or behavioral health professionals during their first three years of employment in such profession; or (iii) services to prevent or mitigate secondary trauma or burnout associated with working in mental health professional shortage areas or other high-need areas or schools. (F) Disseminate information on effective practices for the preparation of mental or behavioral health professionals, including practices for obtaining any certifications or licenses needed to practice as a mental or behavioral health professional or a school mental health services provider in a State. (G) Develop strategies to increase awareness, interest, and experiential learning opportunities in mental and behavioral health careers, especially among racial and ethnic minority communities, including through partnerships with State educational agencies, local educational agencies, or other institutions of higher education to increase awareness of and interest in such careers among elementary school students, secondary school students, or undergraduate students. (3) Planning grants An eligible institution that receives a grant under subsection (a)(2) shall use the grant to engage in planning activities necessary for the establishment of at least one new graduate program in mental or behavioral health professions. (d) Application To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible institution shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. An eligible institution applying for a grant under subsection (a)(2) shall include in the institution’s application for such grant information demonstrating evidence of— (1) an institutional commitment to opening and sustaining a graduate program that prepares students to work as a mental or behavioral health professional; and (2) a relationship with the relevant professional organization, accreditation agency or association, or regulatory body to ensure that planning aligns with professional standards and State credentialing requirements. (e) Grant amount (1) In general The minimum amount of each grant under subsection (a)(1) shall be $500,000. (2) Planning grants The amount of each grant under subsection (a)(2) shall be an amount determined by the Secretary. (f) Limitation on administrative expenses An eligible institution that receives a grant under this section may use not more than three percent of funds provided to administer the grant, not including salary and benefits for faculty and staff. (g) Regulations The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section. (h) Report Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this section, and not less frequently than once every two years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the authorizing committees a report on the grant program under this section. Each report shall include— (1) descriptions of the programs supported with grants under this section; (2) demographic information about the students served by such programs; and (3) such other information as the Secretary determines appropriate. (i) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year. 729. Grants to students for graduate study in mental or behavioral health professions (a) In general The Secretary is authorized to carry out a program under which the Secretary shall pay to an eligible institution such sums as may be necessary to enable the institution to provide each eligible student with a grant in the amount of $10,000 for each year during which the student attends an eligible graduate program at the institution. (b) Application To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a student shall submit to the institution an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary, in consultation with the institution, may require. (c) Distribution to students Subject to subsection (d), grants to students under this section shall be made in accordance with a process determined by the Secretary for such purpose, in such manner as will best accomplish the purpose of this section. (d) Limitation on secretarial and institutional authority In carrying out the grant program under this section, the Secretary and any institution participating in the program may not— (1) convert a grant into a loan or otherwise require a student to repay any portion of the grant amount; or (2) require a student to complete a service obligation as a condition of receiving such a grant. (e) Report Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this section, and not less frequently than once every two years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the authorizing committees a report on the grant program under this section. Each report shall include information on the following: (1) The number and demographic information of students who received grants under this section. (2) The degrees obtained by such recipients. (3) Such other information as the Secretary determines appropriate. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible graduate program The term eligible graduate program means a graduate degree program in a mental or behavioral health profession, including school-based mental health services, offered by an eligible institution. (2) Eligible student The term eligible student means a student who— (A) is enrolled in an eligible graduate program at a eligible institution participating in the program under this section; (B) is in good academic standing, as determined by the institution; and (C) has submitted an application to the institution in accordance with subsection (b). (g) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year. .