,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dchh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #cj1 #bjbj,mr4 ,menendez 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,ms4 ,cortez ,masto1 ,ms4 ,stabenow1 ,mr4 ,bennet1 ,ms4 ,smith1 ,ms4 ,rosen1 ,ms4 ,warren1 ,mr4 ,carper1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,ms4 ,baldwin1 and ,ms4 ,harris7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to address mental health issues for youth1 particularly youth of color1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,mental ,health ,equity ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,table of contents ,the table of contents for this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title4,sec4 #b4 ,table of contents4,,title ,i--,health ,equity and ,accountability,sec4 #aja4 ,integrated ,health ,care ,demonstration ,program4,sec4 #ajb4 ,addressing racial and ethnic minority mental health disparities research gaps4,sec4 #ajc4 ,health professions competencies to address racial and ethnic minority mental health disparities4,sec4 #ajd4 ,racial and ethnic minority behavioral and mental health outreach and education strategy4,sec4 #aje4 ,additional funds for ,national ,institutes of ,health4,sec4 #ajf4 ,additional funds for ,national ,institute on ,minority ,health and ,health ,disparities4,,title ,,ii--,other provisions,sec4 #bja4 ,reauthorization of ,minority ,fellowship ,program4,sec4 #bjb4 ,commission on the ,effects of ,smartphone and ,social ,media ,use on ,adolescents4,sec4 #bjc4 ,no ,federal funds for conversion therapy4 ,i ,health ,equity and ,accountability #aja4 ,integrated ,health ,care ,demonstration ,program ,part ,d of title ,v of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bij;dd et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #eej4 ,interprofessional health care teams for provision of behavioral health care in primary care settings 7a7 ,grants ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,assistant ,secretary for ,mental ,health and ,substance ,abuse1 shall award grants to eligible entities for the purpose of establishing interprofessional health care teams that provide behavioral health care4 7b7 ,eligible entities ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an entity shall be a ,federally qualified health center 7as defined in section #ahfa7;aa7 of the ,social ,security ,act71 rural health clinic1 or behavioral health program1 serving a high proportion of individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups 7as defined in section #agjg7;g774 7c7 ,scientifically based ,integrated health care funded through this section shall be scientifically based1 taking into consideration the results of the most recent peer-reviewed research available4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there is authorized to be appropriated #bj1jjj1jjj for each of the first #e fiscal years following the date of enactment of the ,mental ,health ,equity ,act of #bjbj4 4 #ajb4 ,addressing racial and ethnic minority mental health disparities research gaps ,not later than #f months after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,director of the ,national ,institute on ,minority ,health and ,health ,disparities shall enter into an arrangement with the ,national ,academy of ,sciences 7or1 if the ,national ,academy of ,sciences declines to enter into such an arrangement1 an arrangement with the ,institute of ,medicine1 the ,patient ,centered ,outcomes ,research ,institute1 the ,agency for ,healthcare ,quality1 or another appropriate entity7-- 7#a7 to conduct a study with respect to mental health disparities in racial and ethnic minority groups 7as defined in section #agjg7;g7 of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjju-#f7;g7772 and 7#b7 to submit to the ,congress a report on the results of such study1 including-- 7,a7 a compilation of information on the dynamics of mental disorders in such racial and ethnic minority groups2 and 7,b7 a compilation of information on the impact of exposure to community violence1 adverse childhood experiences1 and other psychological traumas on mental disorders in such racial and minority groups4 #ajc4 ,health professions competencies to address racial and ethnic minority mental health disparities 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 acting through the ,assistant ,secretary for ,mental ,health and ,substance ,use1 shall award grants to qualified national organizations for the purposes of-- 7#a7 developing1 and disseminating to health professional educational programs curricula or core competencies addressing mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups for use in the training of students in the professions of social work1 psychology1 psychiatry1 marriage and family therapy1 mental health counseling1 and substance abuse counseling2 and 7#b7 certifying community health workers and peer wellness specialists with respect to such curricula and core competencies and integrating and expanding the use of such workers and specialists into health care to address mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups4 7b7 ,curricula2 core competencies ,organizations receiving funds under subsection 7a7 may use the funds to engage in the following activities related to the development and dissemination of curricula or core competencies described in subsection 7a77#a73 7#a7 ,formation of committees or working groups comprised of experts from accredited health professions schools to identify core competencies relating to mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups4 7#b7 ,planning of workshops in national fora to allow for public input into the educational needs associated with mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups4 7#c7 ,dissemination and promotion of the use of curricula or core competencies in undergraduate and graduate health professions training programs nationwide4 7#d7 ,establishing external stakeholder advisory boards to provide meaningful input into policy and program development and best practices to reduce mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups4 7c7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,qualified national organization ,the term qualified national organization means a national organization that focuses on the education of students in programs of social work1 psychology1 psychiatry1 and marriage and family therapy4 7#b7 ,racial and ethnic minority group ,the term racial and ethnic minority group has the meaning given to such term in section #agjg7;g7 of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjju-#f7;g774 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for each of the first #e fiscal years following the date of enactment of this ,act4 #ajd4 ,racial and ethnic minority behavioral and mental health outreach and education strategy ,part ,d of title ,v of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bij;dd et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #eec4 ,behavioral and mental health outreach and education strategy 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,assistant ,secretary1 shall1 in coordination with advocacy and behavioral and mental health organizations serving racial and ethnic minority groups1 develop and implement an outreach and education strategy to promote behavioral and mental health and reduce stigma associated with mental health conditions and substance abuse among racial and ethnic minority groups4 ,such strategy shall-- 7#a7 be designed to-- 7,a7 meet the diverse cultural and language needs of the various racial and ethnic minority groups2 and 7,b7 be developmentally and age-appropriate2 7#b7 increase awareness of symptoms of mental illnesses common among such groups1 taking into account differences within subgroups1 such as gender1 gender identity1 age1 or sexual orientation1 of such groups2 7#c7 provide information on evidence-based1 culturally and linguistically appropriate and adapted interventions and treatments2 7#d7 ensure full participation of1 and engage1 both consumers and community members in the development and implementation of materials2 and 7#e7 seek to broaden the perspective among both individuals in these groups and stakeholders serving these groups to use a comprehensive public health approach to promoting behavioral health that addresses a holistic view of health by focusing on the intersection between behavioral and physical health4 7b7 ,reports ,beginning not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,assistant ,secretary1 shall submit to ,congress1 and make publicly available1 a report on the extent to which the strategy developed and implemented under subsection 7a7 increased behavioral and mental health outcomes associated with mental health conditions and substance abuse among racial and ethnic minority groups4 7c7 ,definition ,in this section1 the term racial and ethnic minority group has the meaning given to that term in section #agjg7;g74 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #aj1jjj1jjj for the first fiscal year following the date of enactment of the ,mental ,health ,equity ,act of #bjbj4 4 #aje4 ,additional funds for ,national ,institutes of ,health 7a7 ,in general ,in addition to amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated to the ,national ,institutes of ,health1 there is authorized to be appropriated to such ,institutes #ajj1jjj1jjj for each of the first #e fiscal years following the date of enactment of this ,act to build relations with communities and conduct or support clinical research1 including clinical research on racial or ethnic disparities in physical and mental health4 7b7 ,definition ,in this section1 the term clinical research has the meaning given to such term in section #dji of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bhd;d74 #ajf4 ,additional funds for ,national ,institute on ,minority ,health and ,health ,disparities ,in addition to amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated to the ,national ,institute on ,minority ,health and ,health ,disparities1 there is authorized to be appropriated to such ,institute #fej1jjj1jjj for each of the first #e fiscal years following the date of enactment of this ,act4 ,,ii ,other provisions #bja4 ,reauthorization of ,minority ,fellowship ,program ,section #eig7;c7 of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bigll7c77 is amended by striking #ab1ffi1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjah through #bjbb and inserting #be1jjj1jjj for each of the first #e fiscal years following the date of enactment of the ,mental ,health ,equity ,act of #bjbj4 #bjb4 ,commission on the ,effects of ,smartphone and ,social ,media ,use on ,adolescents 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #f months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall establish a commission1 to be known as the ,commission on the ,effects of ,smartphone and ,social ,media ,usage on ,adolescents1 to examine-- 7#a7 the extent of smartphone and social media use in schools2 and 7#b7 the effects of such use on-- 7,a7 the emotional and physical health of students2 and 7,b7 the academic performance of students4 7b7 ,membership 7#a7 ,number ,the ,commission shall consist of #ae members appointed by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,composition ,the members of the ,commission-- 7,a7 shall not include any government officials or employees2 and 7,b7 shall include representatives of academia1 technology companies1 and advocacy groups4 7c7 ,guidelines ,the ,secretary shall authorize the ,commission to establish guidelines for its operation4 7d7 ,report ,not later than #a year after its establishment1 the ,commission shall submit to the ,congress1 and make publicly available1 a report on the findings and conclusions of the ,commission4 7e7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,the term ,commission means the ,commission on the ,effects of ,smartphone and ,social ,media ,usage on ,adolescents established under subsection 7a74 7#b7 ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7f7 ,sunset ,not later than #f months after the ,commission submits the report required by subsection 7c71 the ,secretary shall terminate the ,commission4 #bjc4 ,no ,federal funds for conversion therapy 7a7 ,in general ,no ,federal funds may be used for conversion therapy4 7b7 ,discouraging ,states from funding conversion therapy ,beginning on the date that is #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 any ,state that funds conversion therapy shall be ineligible to be awarded a grant or other financial assistance under any program of the ,substance ,abuse and ,mental ,health ,services ,administration1 including any program under title ,v of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bij;aa et seq474 7c7 ,definitions ,for purposes of this section3 7#a7 ,conversion therapy ,the term conversion therapy-- 7,a7 means any practice or treatment by any person that seeks to change another individual's sexual orientation or gender identity1 including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions1 or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender1 if such person receives monetary compensation in exchange for any such practice or treatment2 and 7,b7 does not include any practice or treatment1 which does not seek to change sexual orientation or gender identity1 that-- 7i7 provides assistance to an individual undergoing a gender transition2 or 7ii7 provides acceptance1 support1 and understanding of a client or facilitation of a client's coping1 social support1 and identity exploration and development1 including sexual orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices4 7#b7 ,gender identity ,the term gender identity means the gender-related identity1 appearance1 mannerisms1 or other gender-related characteristics of an individual1 regardless of the individual's designated sex at birth4 7#c7 ,person ,the term person means any individual1 partnership1 corporation1 cooperative1 association1 or any other entity4 7#d7 ,sexual orientation ,the term sexual orientation means homosexuality1 heterosexuality1 or bisexuality4 7#e7 ,state ,the term ,state has the meaning given to such term in section #b of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bja74