Early Action and Responsiveness Lifts Youth Minds Act

Bill: 119-hr-1735
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]
Introduced: 2025-02-27
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health

Congressional oversight

Health programs administration and funding

Health promotion and preventive care

Mental health

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2025-02-27
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1735 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 27, 2025 Mr. Pfluger (for himself, Ms. Castor of Florida , Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania , and Ms. Schrier ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend title XIX of the Public Health Service Act to provide for prevention and early intervention services under the Block Grants for Community Mental Health Services program, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Early Action and Responsiveness Lifts Youth Minds Act or the EARLY Minds Act . 2. Early intervention (a) State plan option Section 1912(b)(1)(A)(vii) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300x–1(b)(1)(A)(vii) ) is amended— (1) in subclause (III), by striking and at the end; (2) in subclause (IV), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (V) a description of any evidence-based prevention and early intervention strategies and programs the State provides to prevent, delay, or reduce the severity and onset of mental illness and behavioral problems, including for children and adolescents, irrespective of experiencing a serious mental illness or serious emotional disturbance, as defined under subsection (c)(1). . (b) Allocation allowance; reports Section 1920 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300x–9 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (e) Prevention and early intervention services In the case of a State with a State plan that provides for strategies and programs specified in section 1912(b)(1)(A)(vii)(V), such State may expend not more than 5 percent of the amount of the allotment of the State pursuant to a funding agreement under section 1911 for each fiscal year to support such strategies and programs. (f) Reports to congress Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the EARLY Minds Act, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall provide a report to the Congress on the prevention and early intervention strategies and programs pursued by States pursuant to subsections (e). Each such report shall include— (1) a list of the States that utilized the option to provide prevention and early intervention services; (2) a description of the each State’s prevention and early intervention activities; (3) the population served, including information on demographics, including age; (4) the outcomes of such activities, including— (A) how such activities reduced delays in access to mental and behavioral health care for children and adults; and (B) how such activities reduced the severity of onset of serious mental illness and serious emotional disturbance; and (5) any other relevant information the Secretary deems necessary. .