,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gghj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #bd1 #bjbj,mr4 ,kennedy 7for himself and ,mr4 ,crdenas7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 acting through the ,director of the ,center for ,mental ,health ,services of the ,substance ,abuse and ,mental ,health ,services ,administration1 to award grants to facilitate the funding of community-based mental health and substance use disorder services and peer support programs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,virtual ,community ,support ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,grant for community-based mental health and substance use disorder services and peer support programs 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ae days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 acting through the ,director of the ,center for ,mental ,health ,services of the ,substance ,abuse and ,mental ,health ,services ,administration1 shall establish a program 7in this ,act referred to as the ,program7 to facilitate the funding of community-based mental health and substance use disorder services and peer support programs4 7b7 ,grant authority ,in carrying out the ,program1 the ,secretary shall award a grant in accordance with this section4 7c7 ,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 7d74 7d7 ,eligible projects ,grant funds awarded under the ,program may be used to-- 7#a7 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 services2 7#b7 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 services2 7#c7 obtain technology required to provide a community-based mental health and substance use disorder services virtually2 7#d7 compensate a healthcare provider or a peer specialist for the provision of community-based mental health and substance use disorder services2 7#e7 provide education assistance to an individual seeking certification as a peer specialist2 7#f7 provide for workforce development1 recruitment1 and retention activities1 to train1 recruit1 and retain peer specialists2 7#g7 transition a network of in-person1 peer specialist facilitated behavioral health support services to a virtual platform for such behavioral health support services2 or 7#h7 expand or improve virtual1 peer specialist facilitated behavioral health support services carried out by the entity prior to the date of enactment of this section4 7e7 ,applications ,to be eligible for a grant under the ,program1 an eligible recipient shall submit to the ,secretary an application in such form1 at such time1 and containing such information as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate4 7f7 ,guidance ,not later than #ae days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall issue guidance on the requirements an eligible recipient shall take to provide community-based mental health and substance use disorder services4 7g7 ,supplement not supplant ,federal funds paid to an eligible recipient pursuant to the ,program must be used to supplement1 but not supplant1 any other ,federal1 ,state1 or local funds available to such eligible recipient4 7h7 ,report 7#a7 ,interim report ,not later than #ij days after the date on which funds are distributed under the ,program1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on the ,program that includes-- 7,a7 the number of grants awarded under the ,program2 7,b7 the location of each grant awarded under the ,program2 and 7,c7 the amount requested and amount awarded for each grant under the ,program4 7#b7 ,report ,not later than #cj days after the end of the ,,covid-#ai emergency period1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on the ,program that includes-- 7,a7 the number of grants awarded under the ,program2 7,b7 the location of each grant awarded under the ,program2 and 7,c7 the amount requested and amount awarded for each grant under the ,program4 7#c7 ,publication requirement ,on the date on which a report is submitted under paragraphs 7#a7 or 7#b71 the ,secretary shall publish such report submitted on the website of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the ,program-- 7#a7 during the ,,covid-#ai emergency period1 such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years such emergency period is ongoing2 and 7#b7 after the ,,covid-#ai emergency period1 #e1jjj1jjj for each of the five fiscal years beginning after the termination of the ,,covid-#ai emergency period4 7j7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,,covid-#ai emergency period ,the term ,,covid-#ai emergency period means the public health emergency declared by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services on ,january #bg1 #bjbj1 with respect to the #bjai novel coronavirus4 7#b7 ,eligible ,recipient ,the term eligible recipient means-- 7,a7 a department of health or a department of public health1 in coordination with a ,state2 7,b7 a behavioral health program that primarily serves individuals with mental health or substance abuse disorders2 7,c7 community-based nonprofit1 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 level2 or 7,d7 an institution of higher education providing service learning and civic-engagement courses for peer specialist training4 7#c7 ,healthcare provider ,the term healthcare provider mean a certified provider who provides behavioral health services4 7#d7 ,peer specialist ,the term peer specialist includes-- 7,a7 a certified peer specialist2 7,b7 a peer recovery support specialist2 and 7,c7 a recovery coach for behavioral health4 7#e7 ,state ,the term ,state means a ,state of the ,united ,states1 the ,district of ,columbia1 or any commonwealth1 territory1 or possession of the ,united ,states1 or an ,indian tribe4