,,ii  #aafth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 #djei  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,june #bd1     
#bjbj ,ms4 ,smith 7for herself and ,ms4 
,murkowski7 introduced the following    
bill2 which was read twice and referred 
to the ,committee on ,health1           
,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions  ,a   
,,bill  ,to direct the ,secretary of    
,health and ,human ,services to award   
grants to ,states1 political            
subdivisions of ,states1 ,indian ,tribes
 and ,tribal organizations1             
community-based entities1 and primary   
care and behavioral health organizations
 to address behavioral health needs     
caused by the public health emergency   
declared with respect to ,,covid-#ai4   
#a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited
 as the ,,covid-#ai ,behavioral ,health 
,support ,act4  #b4 ,grants to support  
increased behavioral health needs due to
 ,,covid-#ai  7a7 ,in general ,the      
,secretary1 acting through the          
,assistant ,secretary of ,mental ,health

 and ,substance ,use1 shall award grants
 to ,states1 political subdivisions of  
,states1 ,indian ,tribes and ,tribal    
organizations1 community-based entities1
 and primary care and behavioral health 
organizations to address behavioral     
health needs caused by the public health
 emergency declared pursuant to section 
#cai of the ,public ,health ,service    
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bdg;d7 with respect
 to ,,covid-#ai4  7b7 ,use of funds ,an 
entity that receives a grant under      
subsection 7a7 may use funds received   
through such grant to-- 7#a7 increase   
behavioral health treatment and         
prevention capacity1 including to--     
7,a7 promote coordination among local   
entities2  7,b7 train the behavioral    
health workforce1 relevant stakeholders1
 and community members2  7,c7 upgrade   
technology to support effective delivery
 of health care services through        
telehealth modalities1 including the    
purchase of telehealth equipment2  7,d7 
purchase medical supplies and equipment 

for behavioral health treatment         
entities1 providers1 and patients2  7,e7
 address and support surge capacity for 
behavioral health needs 7such as through
 mobile units71 including the purchasing
 of supplies and equipment2  7,f7       
promote collaboration between primary   
care and mental health providers2 and   
7,g7 cover overhead costs1 including    
rent and utility costs2 and  7#b7       
support or enhance behavioral health    
services1 including--  7,a7 emergency   
crisis intervention1 including mobile   
crisis units1 #bd_/g crisis call        
centers1 and medically staffed crisis   
stabilization programs2  7,b7 screening1
 assessment1 diagnosis1 and treatment2  
7,c7 mental health awareness trainings2 
7,d7 evidence-based suicide prevention2 
7,e7 evidence-based integrated care     
models2  7,f7 community recovery and    
peer supports2  7,g7 outreach to        
underserved and minority communities2   
and  7,h7 support for front line health 
care workers4  7c7 ,priority ,the       

,secretary shall give priority to       
applicants that are-- 7#a7 culturally   
specific organizations1 ,tribal         
behavioral health and substance use     
disorder providers1 or organizations    
that are intentional about serving      
populations where ,,covid-#ai has had   
the most impact2 or  7#b7 proposing to  
serve areas with a high number of       
,,covid-#ai cases4  7d7 ,evaluation ,an 
entity that receives a grant under this 
section shall prepare and submit an     
evaluation to the ,secretary at such    
time1 in such manner1 and containing    
such information as the ,secretary may  
reasonably require1 including--  7#a7 an
 evaluation of activities carried out   
with funds received through the grant2  
and  7#b7 a process and outcome         
evaluation4  7e7 ,authorization of      
appropriations ,to carry out this       
section1 there is authorized to be      
appropriated #ge1jjj1jjj for each of    
fiscal years #bjbj and #bjba1 to remain 
available until expended4