2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 7.5 - Behavioral Health Administration › Subtitle 2 - Behavioral Health Administration › Section 7.5-208 - Behavioral Health Crisis Response Grant Program

(a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)    “Mobile crisis team” has the meaning stated in § 10–1401 of this article.
(3)    “Program” means the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Grant Program.
(b)    (1)    There is a Behavioral Health Crisis Response Grant Program in the Department.
(2)    The purpose of the Program is to provide funds to local jurisdictions to establish and expand community behavioral health crisis response systems.
(c)    The Department shall administer the Program.
(d)    (1)    The Program shall award competitive grants to local behavioral health authorities to establish and expand behavioral health crisis response programs and services that:
(i)    Serve local behavioral health needs for children, adults, and older adults;
(ii)    Meet national standards;
(iii)    Integrate the delivery of mental health and substance use treatment; and
(iv)    Connect individuals to appropriate community–based care in a timely manner on discharge.
(2)    Funds distributed to a local behavioral health authority under the Program:
(i)    May be used to establish or expand behavioral health crisis response programs and services, such as:
1.    Mobile crisis teams;
2.    On–demand walk–in services;
3.    Crisis residential beds; and
4.    Other behavioral health crisis programs and services that the Department considers eligible for Program funds; and
(ii)    Shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, any other funding for behavioral health crisis response programs and services.
(3)    A local behavioral health authority may submit a proposal requesting Program funding to the Department.
(4)    In awarding grants under this section, the Department shall prioritize proposals that:
(i)    Make use of more than one funding source;
(ii)    Demonstrate efficiency in service delivery through regionalization, integration of the behavioral health crisis program or service with existing public safety and emergency resources, and other strategies to achieve economies of scale;
(iii)    Serve all members of the immediate community with cultural competency and appropriate language access;
(iv)    Commit to gathering feedback from the community on an ongoing basis and improving service delivery continually based on this feedback;
(v)    Demonstrate strong partnerships with community services that include family member and consumer advocacy organizations and regional stakeholders;
(vi)    Evidence a plan of linking individuals in crisis to peer support and family support services after stabilization; and
(vii)    Evidence a strong plan for integration into the existing behavioral health system of care and supports to provide seamless aftercare.
(5)    In awarding grants under this section, the Department shall require that proposals contain response standards that prioritize mobile crisis units over law enforcement when responding to individuals in crisis.
(6)    For each service or program that receives funding under the Program, a local behavioral health authority shall report to the Department and make available to the public all:
(i)    Outcome measurement data required by the Department; and
(ii)    Public feedback received from the community through a combination of surveys, public comments, town hall meetings, and other methods.
(7)    The Department shall establish:
(i)    Application procedures;
(ii)    A statewide system of outcome measurement to:
1.    Assess the effectiveness and adequacy of behavioral health crisis response services and programs; and
2.    Produce data that shall be:
A.    Collected, analyzed, and publicly reported back at least annually; and
B.    Disaggregated by race, gender, age, and zip code;
(iii)    Guidelines that require programs to bill third–party insurers and, when appropriate, the Maryland Medical Assistance Program; and
(iv)    Any other procedures or criteria necessary to carry out this section.
(e)    The Governor shall include in the annual operating budget bill the following amounts for the Program:
(1)    $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2020;
(2)    $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;
(3)    $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
(4)    $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
(5)    $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and
(6)    $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
(f)    Beginning in fiscal year 2023, at least one–third of the appropriation required under subsection (e) of this section shall be used to award competitive grants for mobile crisis teams.
(g)    On or before December 1 each year beginning in 2020, the Department shall submit to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly a report that includes, for the most recent closed fiscal year:
(1)    The number of grants distributed;
(2)    Funds distributed by county;
(3)    Information about grant recipients and programs and services provided; and
(4)    Outcome data reported under the statewide system of measurement required in subsection (d)(7)(ii) of this section.